China Coast Marathon a spectacular alternative to Standard Chartered Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s oldest marathon, the China Coast event differs from the city race a week later and will pose a gruelling challenge in Sai Kung
The Road Scholars China Coast Marathon, Hong Kong’s longest-established race over that distance, promises runners a daunting but spectacular challenge when its 45th anniversary edition takes place next month.
It falls on January 11, just a week before the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, the city’s largest running event, and offers an alternative to its 74,000-runner counterpart in more ways than one.
Expected to draw about 1,000 runners in total for its marathon and half-marathon, the China Coast event’s punishing hills and Sai Kung Country Park setting have become its hallmarks, contrasting with the Standard Chartered’s relatively gentle route through the concrete jungle.
Not that the two have to be mutually exclusive, with some runners prepared to sign up for both, according to the China Coast organiser, the volunteer-run Athletic Veterans of Hong Kong (AVOHK).
“It’s always challenging to schedule races in the country park because of permit restrictions,” Elaine Hall, the group’s vice-chairwoman, said.
“We would have preferred a bigger gap between the two events, but January 11 was the only date available before the Chinese New Year.”