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Hong Kong Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Hong Kong Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.4 
Organization 4.2 
Spectators 2.0
Number of comments: 33 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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Go Wazzu! from Macau
(3/25/2008)
"All-Highway Course + 7 Ending Inclines = Frustrati" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Hong Kong Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 **Full Disclosure - I ran this race with a head cold and on cold medicine, which turned out to result in a crummy day, so while my comments will be on the race, please keep this bias in mind.** Great organization pre-, during, and post-race - plenty of water, sponges, and medics on the course. The HK Standard Marathon is 100% on highways, so while the road is closed, the other side isn't so you are running all but 5K of it next to traffic and with ultimately it is not scenic (unless you consider asphalt pretty). I'd say the biggest draw for this race is the fact that on any other day, you couldn't be running this course - because of the two bridges, the one island where you are in a tunnel the whole time, and of course, the uber-cool, running of the trans-harbor tunnel under the sea (cool little marathon-feather-in-the-cap, eh?!) Unfortunately, I think my biggest disappointment was the difference between the course and the elevation chart. Now, as stated above, I was under the weather, and it affected my time, but even with the new 2008 course, "BRUTAL's" comment below stands. At 32K, you run a fairly long incline out of the tunnel that turns immediately into three consecutive on-ramps that go up, up, and up... ouch! Then after that, as you travel along Kowloon, you hit 5 more overpasses that, while short inclines, are fairly steep. They did me in.... In the end I should have trained better/been healthier, but the end of the course was killer, even harder than then end of the old LA course. Still a fun day with a lot of people, but that end of the course really spoiled my enjoyment of the day. | |
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f. e. from singapore
(2/22/2008)
"cold drinks to rehydrate?" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Hong Kong Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 Temperature was low at 13C; I have run two 42K races and could not believe I was drinking a very cold drink in HK. Even foreigners like me were saying, "The water is cold - no thanks." Overall, it was still a great race! | |
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Mike Cartwright from HK
(8/6/2007)
"Nightmare Half Marathon" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 This time I did the half marathon. Trained for my PB and started off great. Organizational support is good, and despite a slowish start because of the many, many runners, I got into my stride. Heading into the final 7 KM, I was well under my PB, but then the nightmare started. A huge number of casual "runners," "walkers" and people stopping to take photos blocked the route for the next 2-3 KM making it impossible to run! The end of the race was more like a charity walk than a race. Definitely will not join this race again unless the organization is improved.... Pity. I have done it over six times, but this was the worst. | |
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Marcus Van Noppen from Aarschot, Belgium
(3/23/2007)
"No fans allowed at the finish: a shame!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Hong Kong Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 It was the third time I joined the Hong Kong Marathon, which is well organized if you talk about the baggage deposit and pick up, drinking posts, and first aid teams. But my feeling is that the organization is putting the focus on quantity instead of quality. More and more runners are joining but the roads from the start are far too narrow to let runners run their own pace. People block each other. Only on Tsing Ma Bridge at about 17K I felt more free to run my race. Much of the route is used in two directions, compressing the runners in a narrow lane, and a third lane is kept free for emergency service. The route is not the easiest one - mostly uphill till halfway and the toughest part is from running out of the harbour tunnel till the 41 KM mark with a number of very steep hills. Some people suggest to reroute the marathon into town to flatten the route and to allow more fans. But in town the air pollution would be a nightmare for the emergency services. This year they didn't even allow fans at the finish! There was only a grand set-up for VIP people. What a shame this is! And they want to make the marathon more fan friendly?! My wife was very upset she could not see me arriving, and how upset I was! It took me some time to find her away from the finish. A new route should be out of town on wide roads, at least from the start, used in single direction. No matter where the finish is, runners would attract fans anyway, but fans should be allowed. It is the best reward for the arriving runners - better than a medal (given before even starting!). I go to Hong Kong every year to celebrate Chinese New Year but for the marathon in 2008, I am not thinking of joining unless new regulations are made to improve the quality of the race. | |
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Ton Concepcion from Makati, Philippines
(3/10/2007)
"BRUTAL" (about: 2007)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Five things about the HK Marathon: 1. Great logistics and great organization - KM markers, porta-lets, baggage handling, race kit, water stations, sports drinks, chocolates, etc. - absolutely well organized. 2. Three seasons in one race. Cloudy and warm at the start, drizzling and cool by the bridges, summer - warm and sunny at Hong Kong side. 3. Lonely course - boring running along the highway and tunnels. Be sure to bring tunes - iPod Shuffle is best. No spectators except for a few SC employees that cheer you on. 4. TONS of people - 6,000 marathoners joined; and 1,000 did not finish. All in all, 42,000 signed up and 37,000 people actually joined - so expect traffic during the first 10 KM. 5. BRUTAL COURSE - basically uphill through the first 21 KM. Toughest part was going out of the harbor tunnel where the is an uphill incline for about 1 KM that steepens even further towards the end - note that this is already at KM 37 or so, so this is the last thing you need. And just when you think it's over, you get hit with an on-ramp incline again - this time even steeper - and then when you think that it must be over and you can go for it at around 39 KM another on-ramp - a steep one. And when you finally think it's over one more - so steep that you actually have to walk down. Then towards the last 1 KM it becomes a psycholgical mind game because you only have 1 KM to go but you can't see the finish line till the next 50 meters as you bend around the HK convention center. To add to the steep inclines are the banks of the highways, which make it difficult to run as gravity pulls you to the side of the road. Bottom line: If you can make it in HK, you can make it anywhere. Great experience, but I would not do it again unless they change the course to a flatter course, which they are seriously considering for next year. This was the complaint even among the African runners who swept the event. And one more thing - about the pollution: nothing to worry about unless you live in Antartica (where there is no air pollution - for the time being). | |
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Alan Ho from Singapore
(3/9/2007)
"Great marathon, but no spectators" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Hong Kong Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This is my first time in HK. The logistics are great. Plenty of water points. The route is mainly along the expressway, with lots of slopes and tunnels. Very badly designed finisher's medal, which to me is a great disappointment because I collect them. They give it to us when we pick up the race kit. You get the medal before the run. | |
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T. Y. from Hong Kong
(6/15/2006)
"Course closes too quickly" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Hong Kong Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This is my second entry to Hong Kong SC Marathon. Logistics was well organized this year. Baggage handling was efficient and there are plenty of drink stations and first aid post along the course. For areas of improvement, the game is not so friendly for slow runners like me who struggles to finish within 5 hours. Water station started to close up around the 28KM-35KM area before the time limit; people started removing the mileage marks and this is a bit discouraging. Western Harbour tunnel was even closed when you reached there before the 4:10 time limit. I believe the tunnel was closed much earlier as there was already a bigger crowd who couldn't pass when I reached the tunnel point. I hope the arrangement could pay more respect to the Runners' Guide. The ending undulation is unnecessary. I would love it better had the finish line been on Kowloon side. Last year's small-size chocolate bars were just right, wheareas this year's was too big and a lot was wasted. Lastly the helicopter waving banner along Victoria Harbour is spectacular. | |
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Marcus Van Noppen from Aarschot, Belgium
(2/22/2006)
"I'll be back" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Hong Kong Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my second Hong Kong Marathon. Despite the critics in newspapers, the organization was very good, the best organised of all marathons I have run so far. Some people would like to make the marathon more fan friendly by rerouting the next marathon into town. But how about the air pollution, which took part of the critics? Air pollution in townparts like Causeway Bay is so much worse. The preparation of the runners and the many injuries (regrettably also the death of one) are out of control of the organization, but maybe the organization could set up a campaign to warn the runners of a marathon being a serious matter and to prepare well on a long-term base. A medical certificate should also be required for all runners. People should not join a marathon just for the start among several thousand people. In other marathons I joined, more than 90% of the starting runners are arriving. In Hong Kong this is only about 55%. The course is difficult because of the hills, but it gives the marathon some character. The most difficult part is not running out of the Harbour Tunnel (the 37-38KM mark), but the number of very steep hills between 38 and 41 KM. I would advise saving some energy for this. I'll be back for this. | |
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Adie Hart from Hong Kong (from London, UK)
(2/15/2006)
"Difficult course, no spectators but still great!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Hong Kong Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 This was my first marathon. The atmosphere at the start was amazing! The course itself is not so hot.... It is mainly on bridges and through tunnels and so is quite tough and lonely. It is quite windy too, and the pollution (that I felt through the last tunnel) did not help. Spectators are non-existent and ending running through the city traffic, with no one paying attention, is disheartening. I would do it again only to beat my time (I was slowed due to injury). After that, due to the lack of any crowd support and continuous tunnels, bridges and flyovers, I may steer clear. This is a course for those who enjoy the challenge, not the crowd. But my hat's of to the volunteers and organization. They were brilliant and well needed with no spectators along the way. Water points, toilets, KM markers and first aid are frequent and well stocked/manned. If the course allowed spectators, this could be an amazing race! | |
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H. W. from Hong Kong
(2/15/2006)
"Pick up your gas mask and windbreakers beforehand." (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Hong Kong Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Standard Chartered does a great job organizationally: every KM marked (a rarity in Asia), drink stations every 2 KM with plenty of volunteers and cheerleaders and helpful guides on getting there and getting back. Unfortunately, what Standard Chartered cannot control was embarrassingly bad this year: 1) record pollution levels sent over 20 runners to the hospital this year, including one person who actually died this morning after collapsing during the race; 2) a hilly course (HK proudly states it is "one of the world's toughest marathons"; 3) gusty headwinds that took even the elite (including a past Chicago and a past LA winner) into the 2:15-2:20 range on their times; and 4) a course in which spectators are allowed on only 200 M (and not at the finish line) - much of it is concrete, including on bridges and in 2 KM+ tunnels. This is a world-class city that deserves better. |
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