Race Media

Every time you cross the finish line the mind grows stronger

- Bedaux on MSIG Sai Kung 50 

"4 years of trail running has made me a mentally and physically stronger man."

1. How many times have you participated in our races? Why do you join MSIG Sai Kung 50?

I’ve joined Lantau 2 Peaks (twice); MSIG Lantau (twice); MSIG Sai Kung (once) and MSIG HK Island (once).

I’m joining MSIG Sai Kung because I really enjoy this trail - Sai Kung very much which is my favorite playground and it’s a great opportunity to spend a day out on the trails without having to worry about food and drinks!

 

2. What got you into trail running?

I moved to Hong Kong over 6 years ago. Since I am from the Netherlands which is probably the flattest country in the world. I immediately fell in love with the mountains. It started with a few hikes in the weekends but when these started to get a bit boring I started to run bits and pieces. Right around that time (approx. 4 years ago) my friend (who became my girlfriend through trail running) and myself thought it would have been a good idea to join the OTW. After finishing that race in just under 25hrs - our passion with trail running took off and we’ve been running +10 races a year.

 

3. How have trail running changed your life? How to balance the daily work and pre-race training?        

Apart from the strong legs and health advantages, (I’m now way more fitter and in better shape than I was 4 years ago) it did enhance my respect for and need to be in and around nature. More importantly it made me mentally so much stronger. Ultra marathons are 50% body and 50% mind. I’ve suffered and I’ve wanted to quit a million times but every time you cross the finish line, whether it is a 16km-21km-55km or 100km race, your mind grow a little stronger.

 

4. How do you encourage your family，friends or other people to join trail running? 

Friends and families who visit always join us on a hike before leaving Hong Kong. (Morning trail up the peak - Tigers Head on Lantau or Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung - they’ve seen it all.)

Next to that we always encourage and invite friends to join the races we do. Some of them run half marathons when we do full, some of them are up for the challenge and go for the full marathons which is always amazing.

 

5. What are your expectations for this race? 

I’m currently not in my best shape so I do not expect to run any records. Nevertheless, if temperature stays as low as it currently is, I do hope I can get close to the time that I ran last year on that beautiful but hot and humid day. Let’s see!

 

 

1. 參加過多少場動感亞洲的比賽? 為什麼會選擇參加MSIG西貢 50？

我參加過多場動感亞洲的賽事﹐包括各兩次的大嶼山兩峰賽和MSIG大嶼山50 ﹐各 一次的MSIG 西貢50和MSIG 香港50。而這次我決定參加MSIG 西貢50是因為西貢是我最喜愛的地方﹐我十分喜歡這條景色宜人的賽道。加上賽事當天Action Asia Event會設置補給站供應食物和飲料﹐所以到時候也是一個絕佳的機會讓我沒有後顧之憂地盡情去享受比賽和大自然。

 

2.是什麼令您投入越野跑呢？

我6年前由荷蘭來到香港﹐而荷蘭很可能是全世界地勢最平坦的國家﹐山少平地多﹐所以我立即愛上了香港的山。一開始我只在週末行山﹐但發覺變得越來越乏味﹐所以便逐漸開始了越野跑。而大約於4年前左右﹐我和我的朋友更開始挑戰參加越野賽事（因為越野跑，她現在已經是我的女朋友）﹐並於25個小時內完成。自那時起﹐我們對越野跑的熱情大増﹐每年至少參加10場賽事。

 

3.越野跑對你的生活帶來了什麼改變？你是如何平衡生活、工作和越野跑？

這四年的越野跑除了令我鍛煉出強健的體魄及健碩的身形外﹐也加強了我對大自然的尊敬和投入感﹐而更重要的是更令我培養出堅強的意志。長距離的越野賽講求體能和意志力並用﹐而我也曾經掙扎過﹐更無數次想過棄賽。但無論比賽距離有多長﹐只要你能衝過終點成功完賽﹐那麼意志力都會隨之增強。

 

4.您如何鼓勵您的家人﹐朋友或其他人加入越野跑？

之前我會帶來港旅遊的家人和朋友去郊遊﹐例如早上出發到山頂﹐或者大嶼山的老虎頭及西貢的大浪灣﹐而他們也通通遊覽過這些好地方。

此外﹐我一直鼓勵家人和朋友和我們一起參加越野賽。他們有些能完成半馬的越野賽事﹐有些甚至能出人意表地完成整個全馬越野賽事。

 

5.您對這場比賽的期望是什麼？

現時我並不在最佳的狀態﹐所以我不期望自己能夠跑出任何新紀錄。但如果比賽當天如現時般低溫的話﹐我真希望能夠跑出與上年的相若的時間。在比賽場上才會知道。