Not many of us are capable of running ultramarathon race. But everyone in Hong Kong should watch the documentary film, Four Trails, which captures our city's legendary endurance event where runner complete all four iconic trails, the MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong, and Lantau.
I have never run a marathon, let alone an ultramarathon. That's fine. If we spend all our time regretting that we aren't young anymore, or we haven't achieved finishing an ultramarathon race, we lose the opportunity to enjoy the moment we're in.
If you're like me, you should celebrate the beautiful trails we are able to enjoy. This weekend, I spent a morning hiking the MacLehose Trail Section 7 and 8. The Needle Hill is one of the most challenging climbs on the whole trail. I was lucky enough to finish despite the thigh cramps. I could have looked back on the days – maybe 20 years ago – when I ran faster without cramps. But why should I? That's what Emil Zátopek, the great Czech Olympic long-distance champion, meant when he said, "Don't look back. You're not going that way."
We should not compete with our past. That's a race we could ever win. I would rather remind myself to go home and have more core strength training.
