TransLantau

The TransLantau race is an incredible endurance event which challenges runners to conquer the hills and valleys of Hong Kong’s biggest island.

Usually, runners gather in the tiny village in the dark at midnight for the start of this grueling 100km race across Hong Kong’s largest island. The 2022 event is tentatively set down for 3 days in March though, so it’s not clear yet exactly how the race will be staged.

Now in its 11th year, TransLantau runs a beautiful but challenging route covering Lantau’s most scenic trails. Runners will start by going through the Chi Ma Wan peninsula, climbing up to the Big Buddha at Ngong Ping, down into Tai O, back across the island and on to the Olympic Trail, to finish again at Mui Wo.

During the race, runners will also have to conquer Lantau Peak, the second-highest mountain in Hong Kong at an elevation of 934 metres, and Sunset Peak, at 854 metres.

Usually, there is a cut off with competitors required to finish the route within 33 hours, with checkpoints throughout the race.

In preious in person races, to qualify to enter the 100 km race, runners must have completed a 100 km race or a 50 km race in under twelve hours within the last two years. Given the dearth of races, it’s not clear how this will be handled. Alternatively, they can compete in the 50km or 25km race categories.

In 2018, the winner of the men’s category came in at 14 hours and 15 minutes, while the fastest female runner came in at 16 hours and 53 minutes.

Registration for the TransLantau is often completely full.