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Dennis Lee

Japanese novelist and marathon runner Haruki Murakami once wrote: “Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest.”
More than an exercise, running is a means to know yourself, your limits and capability, and develop your mental and physical strengths. Whether at home or abroad, running is also one of the best ways to learn about our environment.
If you want to dive deeply into a city beyond the advertised landmarks and tourist attractions, running provides a unique perspective and an authentic taste of the place. In almost every city I have visited, I have put on my running shoes and explored. Running is also not a bad way to fight off jet lag.
As a Hongkonger, when I “staycationed” at various hotels during the Covid-19 pandemic, I did my routine morning run in unfamiliar neighbourhoods and realised how much my understanding of the city was limited to the few popular districts I frequented. I learned a lot about the lesser-known street corners, road connections, eateries and shops I never would have visited otherwise.
Running can also help you to be a better driver. There were often eureka moments when I discovered one road leading to another that I had not been aware of. I have become a better driver and navigator as a result.
Some cities are runner-friendly with nicely paved waterfront promenades and generous pavements, and some cities are not, with their vehicle-centric roadways and poorly maintained pavements.


Hong Kong used to be unfriendly to runners, with its excessive freeways, disconnected neighbourhoods, fast traffic and many traffic lights. But there have been significant improvements in running routes in the past few years – not necessarily on the streets but on both sides of Victoria Harbour.
Kudos to our city planner and the Harbourfront Commission. The authorities have slowly but surely transformed the waterfront real estate. Within a short time, the Central and Western District Promenade, Wan Chai promenade and East Coast Park Precinct have been revamped and upgraded with nice trails, public art, greenery and street furniture.
The newly opened East Coast Boardwalk at the North Point waterfront connects the East and the West using the space below freeways, creating covered outdoor areas. The park provides a precious urban space for all, including runners, to enjoy. Nowadays, one can practically run from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan along the waterfront and have limited encounters with vehicular traffic.
On the Kowloon side, the West Kowloon Cultural District waterfront, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and Hung Hom Promenade are linked, and we should explore ways to extend the connection further west to Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun, and further east to the Kai Tak Sports Park, Kowloon Bay, Kwun Tong Promenade and Tseung Kwan O South Waterfront Promenade.
With such waterfront improvements, the Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates should rethink our standard marathon route. I took part in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon twice, running the full distance in 2018 and 2019, and I vowed not to sign up again.

Starting from Nathan Road, the next 35km are practically soulless freeways and tunnels. Not until the Central ferry piers would there be spectators cheering us on. The route was dreadful, boring and uninspiring.
Earlier this month, I completed the Tokyo Marathon – my fourth full marathon and first of the “Big Six”. The distance, at 42.195km, is long and one should not undermine the importance of spectators. We need every bit of support and encouragement to keep going – whether it was the cheering, high-fives, refreshments or muscle pain relief sprays.
Spectators are very much part of the experience for marathoners. Occasionally, there were cultural dances and musical performances too, and one can see the waving of flags from all corners of the world. Tokyo Marathon, with its slogan “The Day We Unite”, was a truly global event.

Being one of the Big Six, the Tokyo Marathon also draws tourists and boosts the local economy. Indonesia, whose tourism minister took part in the marathon last year, has described it as “a benchmark in organising sports-based events to attract foreign tourists”.
While it might be a challenge for the Hong Kong marathon to become one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, we should continue to improve our route and infrastructure to provide the best experience for runners and participants alike. Imagine a loop route by the water where participants can enjoy both sides of our iconic harbour, not so different from the London Marathon’s route which includes the north and south banks of the River Thames.
Imagine if we could weave between local neighbourhoods and finish at the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Sports Park. The Hong Kong marathon could offer an exhilarating experience no less worthy of a truly mega-event.


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Hong Kong needs a more inspiring and engaging marathon route

People jog at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in May 2021. Hong Kong has seen significant improvements in running routes in the past few years on both sides of Victoria Harbour. Photo: Dickson Lee

The 2020 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon route.

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Commissioner for Sports George Tsoi and Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law attend a press conference on February 20 regarding the Kai Tak Sports Park grand opening. Photo: Edmond So

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Rather than soulless freeways and tunnels, imagine looping round Victoria Harbour, through local neighbourhoods and ending at Kai Tak Sports Park


Rather than soulless freeways and tunnels, imagine looping round Victoria Harbour, through local neighbourhoods and ending at Kai Tak Sports Park.


Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon

Trail running and hiking

Kai Tak Sports Park

Hong Kong tourism

Tourism

Coronavirus Hong Kong

Indonesia

Hong Kong sports

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Hong Kong needs a more inspiring and engaging marathon route

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Rather than soulless freeways and tunnels, imagine looping round Victoria Harbour, through local neighbourhoods and ending at Kai Tak Sports Park

Rather than soulless freeways and tunnels, imagine looping round Victoria Harbour, through local neighbourhoods and ending at Kai Tak Sports Park