(Some) Method to our Madness
For any of you intending to follow in our footsteps (minus the wrong turns + face plants in the mud), this blog aims to give you an idea of why we do what we do and how good we are at it (hint: pretty average). Together with our highly sophisticated 🤔 rating methodology we hope to impart some idea of what you’re up against when tackling these R+R routes.
First to rating methodologies, which we all know are flawed by subjectivity, right?
Well, it’s true one runners’ breezy morning jaunt can be another runners’ lung-busting, slog-fest. But we include one anyway as we think some context is better than none. And if nothing else, it offers some short-hand texture vs. our long-hand ramblings.
At the very least we hope to provide a cursory picture of how awesome the ride is and how lung-busting the run is.
Summing up the obvious:
Flames – and degree of heat – symbolises awesomeness of the Ride, and
Beverages – and level of reward, due – for lung-busting-ness of the trail Run.
Our FKT’s (“Fastest Known Times”) are basically our own PB’s, not that we’ve tried too hard to set them (yet). So, we also include AKT’s (“Average Known Times”) as an additional guide (we’re still in the process of updating these so bear with us)
FLAME scale
🔥sizzlin’
🔥🔥smokin’
🔥🔥🔥en fuego
🔥🔥🔥🔥scorchio
BEVERAGE scale
🍺cheeky one
🍺🍺cheeky two
🍺🍺🍺hasta las chanclas
🍺🍺🍺🍺dinner in the dog
TIMING estimate
FKT (“Fastest Known Time”)
AKT (“Average Known Time”)
Still with us? Then, here’s a bit more context to our “athletic” abilities.
Its safe to say when it comes to riding + running we put ourselves firmly in the mid-range amateur bracket. Think, “weekend-rider” and “fun-runner”.
As a proud Mediterranean, Pantera grew up riding Vespa’s in glorious sunshine whilst my petrolhead kicks (in less-sunny UK), came with four wheels… and a roof. I obtained my motorcycle license in HK around 6 years ago and have been riding assorted Vespas, classic and modern, ever since.
Now to the running, arguably the more subjective of our two pursuits. Not least in Hong Kong where, quite frankly, there reside an impressive collective of trail-running ‘nut-jobs’. I express that view with the utmost love and respect. Literally, we are in awe of these people.
The meteoric rise in popularity of trail-running globally has found no more receptive market than HK over the last decade or so. There are numerous events every weekend (covid-allowing) across this small but trail-rich of territories.
We have one event (HK4TUC) that takes in the full length of Hong Kong’s four main trails (100km Maclehose + 78km Wilson + 50km Hong Kong + 70km Lantau Trails), in reverse. No entry fees, no prizes and a time limit of 60hrs (for “finisher”) and 72hrs (for “survivor”). Typically-modest acclaim for such phenomenal feats. That’s a total of 298km of self-sustained trail glory/torture (delete as appropriate). This has become a Lunar New Year tradition and just last week a new record was set for this course; at 46 hours and 55 mins🤯.
You get the picture.
Meanwhile, there’s a plethora of “amateur” hikers and trail runners in HK, their numbers boosted further by covid restrictions of the past 2 years. The experience level of these local adventurers ranges from those just discovering the best of what Hong Kong has to offer, to those that have covered just about every square inch of the Territory’s trails through a mix of competition and/or their own personal pursuits.
So where do we sit along this broadest of spectrums?
In truth Pantera is naturally more drawn to water; he’s an all-round action man with a love of the sea and water-sports. He’s still a big fan of the trails but there’s only so many hours in the day, so his penchant for the longer, more sadistic running events is a little more restrained. Still, he can more than hold his own and has completed some 15-30km trail run events over the years.
I’m a tiny bit more hardcore, though still tame by HK standards. I’ve completed a handful of 100km Trailwalker races (sub 24hr times), assorted 15-50km trail races and a couple of marathons (sub 4hrs). Keep in mind these events occurred over the course of the last 15 years so stamina levels vary. All clear (as trail mud)?
Summing up, we’ve run for plenty of reasons over the years, mostly a combination of fun and personal challenge. We’ve competed (albeit not seriously), we’ve run faster times, longer distances and in more far-flung locations; we’ve pushed ourselves physically and mentally and enjoyed the therapeutic benefits of both along the way. We continue to run for these all these reasons. And of course it helps keep the beer belly in check👊
But more than anything, we now run for fun. And we run trails, for the sense of freedom and adventure; and a connection with nature. Not least, during these travel-challenged times, it offers an escape and chance to explore and experiment with new routes across this unique territory.
Por fin, we Ride and Run to double down on all the above 🔥🔥🔥
