[nikasp]

Anyone tried Hong Kong trail in one day? Not sure if it's a stupid idea or not. I ran 10 km in 49 mins on flat ground last year but have never done any marathons or similar. I am not out for a record time but hope to make it from early morning and back before it's dark. Would try to run as long as it's flat and walk when tired and steep/stairs.

Anyone who tried and is not a super athlete? Let me know how long it took etc. If I add the times from http://www.afcd.gov.hk/parks/trails/...il/hktrail.htm it adds up to 15 hours.

Stage Route Length (Km) Time (Hr) Difficulty
1 Peak to Pokfulam Reservoir 7.0 2 **
2 Pokfulam Reservoir to Peel Rise 4.5 1.5 **
3 Peel Rise to Wan Chai Gap 6.5 1.75 **
4 Wan Chai Gap to Wong Nai Chung Road 7.5 2 *
5 Wong Nai Chung Rd to Parker Hill Road 4.0 1.5 ***
6 Parker Hill Rd to Tai Tam Road 4.5 1.5 *
7 Tai Tam Road to To Di Wan 7.5 2 *
8 To Di Wan to Tai Long Wan 8.5 2.75 ***
* Easy Walk ** Fairy Difficult*** Very Difficult

[IMO]

I'm too lazy to try the whole trail in one go, but as someone enjoys the odd walk (but doesn't run), I did the first half (sections 1-4) in 5 hours on one day, and the second half in 7 hours another time (and that was a little slower than I would have liked as I was with someone who was fairly out of shape).

So... possible I guess, especially if you run on the flats, and I can only imagine you're MUCH fitter than me . Have fun if you do decide to do it... I'll be thinking of you over a nice cool glass of wine!

[nikasp]

Haha, I am wondering if it's a bad idea and I'll have to spend the night in the dark Down- and uphill is probably way much tougher than 50 km flat.

[mjk]

Tried it once, it is possible, but not enjoyable.

We started at around 7.30am from the Peak, but pretty soon split the group, because some of us were clever enough to take it easy. Ok, partly because they drank too much the night before.

The slower group dropped out after stage 4 at around 2pm, but this included a nice lunch break at Wan Chai Gap.
Some more decided to quit somewhere around Tai Tam road, and a few made it all the way to the end just before it got dark.

I prefer to hike without too much pressure, enjoy the scenery, stop for a packed lunch, etc. Especially when it is so hot.

I would not try it again just to say I made it in a day. Splitting it in two parts is much more enjoyable.

[nikasp]

I think I have dropped that plan and this was even more convincing. Only five weekends left here, sad..., so I will not ruin one with this. If I come back for a long stay in the autumn, which I am hoping, I'll probabaly consider doing it when it is cool.

Thanks for the reply!