Dear Kin Hang's friends
Dear Kin Hang's
friends,
Last year my team
worked very hard but still couldn't finish under 17 hours. This year we have 5
teams broke the 17-hour barrier. And 2 teams broke the Kin Hang record of 15:23
set in 1999 by Ho Hon Ming, Yeung Chi Chung, Hui Hok Fong and Ho Ka
Fai.
This is simply
incredible !! we should have a big celebration feast, shouldn't
we?
This year I notice
S26 (Carolyn, Monica, Suen and Ching) has made a huge progress, surging from
17:41 to 16:19 !! it's not a surprise for ar Hong and Monica, but when Yip Ching
and ar Suen can also do that, that means they have elevated to another level
! Their hard work paid off.
This year we have
new comers Ken and Pango (little lazy cat) joining Kin Hang. Their first
run is already eye-opening (16:35), partly thanks to the guide by old
dogs Anthony and Chan Chi Hung. I am sure with this year's
experience, next year they can run much faster !
Team 90 (Kaymen,
Sunny, Popo and Gary) also did a great job. It's a pity Gary didn't make to the
finish because of sickness. Bad luck is a part of life. Especially when a team
consists of 4 people, it's not uncommon some of the members not in their fittest
condition. "Transform sadness into Power", and success will come next
year. In the past few years Kaymen had eating problems. Without
losing his faith, plus hard training and new eating technique, this year he
overcame the problem and did a very good time at 16:42. Popo has a lot of
reserve. I think she can pursue the female or mixed team prize next year if she
intend to do so.
Team 120 ("Big Cat"
Joe Chan, Leung Kwok On and 2 other guys I'm unfamiliar with) is the quietest
team in this year's lineup. Because we had never seen them training in full
team, we couldn't estimate their finish time at all ! but eventually they did
18:52, so next year's target should be obtaining the Super Trailwalker
certificate, right?
S21 (Cheong, Chuen,
Flora and Sum) is the most surprising. We just heard their entrance 2 days
before the race. Without any preparation, with very little support (shared with
other cars) and some cheap batteries (Cheong and Chuen must remember that for
life !), they can still easily beat our well-prepared team to take the new Kin
Hang record. I pay my highest tribute to them ! and hope next year they will
form the strongest ever Kin Hang team. I think the 14-hour mark is breakable
!
Lastly is my own
team S27. Just 2 days before the race we still argued, but in the race everybody
behaved very professional, helping each other to reach the common goal - to
break the old Kin Hang record. In the last 2 sessions we lifted the target to
break the 15-hour mark. It's an exciting race and I will remember for life ! I
am happy to see Hysan pushed very hard and broke his own limit - as I remember
he had never done Double Pass training under 10 hours, but in the race we did
Double Pass in 9:36 !! who can believe? Sam, the "Big Temper Guy", suddenly
became a gentle cat when he saw I almost exploded by hot sunshine during session
3. He took care of me and poured cold water to my head. Without his help I might
not have recovered. L.T.T., always the quietest guy here, always run in front of
me but keep within a distance to give me hope. I must thanks all these teammates
for helping me achieving this great result: 14:56. It won't be a new Kin Hang
record, but it means a lot to me.
2004 Trailwalker is
my last hiking race. I attended the first hiking race in 1999 and fully devoted
my spare time to training during the last 2-3 years. It's time to say goodbye to
hiking races - but not Kin Hang. I will continue joining Kin Hang and hike with
you guys during Sundays. Next year if you need support, please call
me.
Best regards
Mark
Wan