Razor Hill - Wednesday the 27th of October, 2010

With such a positive run on Tuesday, persisting sore legs from the weekend and night hiking on Thursday, I wanted to head out on a run that wasn't necessarily that hard but would keep me moving. I decided to take on Razor Hill. I figured it was so steep, I'd probably be walking half of the predicted 5km anyway!

It was a bit sunnier than I would have liked, but the air temperature was still quite cool... This is going to be a photo heavy post since it was so damn beautiful up there, so sit back and relax:


Heading across the bridge out of UST, looking up at the target: Razor "Hill"


Been here before, but this time choosing the steep uphill path to the right!


Looking along the ridgeline towards the high-point of Razor "Hill". I swear it looked closer before!


Looking back down the hill at the steep, steep stairs. My normal trail run contours the spur on the left of the picture down to the buildings in the centre.


Getting up there now. That's still the same spur in the middle of the photo!


A panorama from just about the top. From right to left: Po Lam residential towers, the path I followed up, HKUST in about the middle of the photo and almost Sai Kung on the left edge.


Looking down at the highway overpasses that I took the photo at the end near.


Hebe Haven and Sai Kung. The mountain in the background is on Stage 3 of the MacLehose Trail (I think).


A (rare) self-portrait. I wanted to get one of me standing on the datum post, but couldn't find anywhere else flat, so ended up taking it from the datum post. On another note: Wow... talk about thunder thighs!


It wouldn't be a proper Hong-Kong-Joe-Gray Trail Run with a bit of bashing through the jungle! The descent was heavily vegetated.


Almost back at HKUST looking up towards the "hill"




You've probably noticed that I've taken to putting the "hill" part in inverted commas... not sure exactly if a 438m peak still counts as a hill!

With over 400m elevation gain, just about all within ~1.5km, this run is hardly a push over. On the uphill slopes, however, the gradient was just too steep for me to run, so I ended walking up about 30% of the slope I guess, so, on the downhill sections I was still feeling fine. Also, I underestimated the 8.5km length a little (by about 30%!), so it took me longer than expected.

A great dirt trail, an isolated location and fantastic vistas. Another awesome box ticked!

See you on the slopes!
~ Joe

Coming Home - Tuesday the 26th of October, 2010

Overcast skies, cool temps, my favourite Asics and a dirt trail beneath my feet. I honestly couldn't help thinking: this is where I belong.

An awesome run out on the trails today, down to Po Lam and back up via the road. I worked hard but was rewarded with a good time. It's a pity the trail sections are so short, I really felt a sense of elation while running them. Now I just need to find a place where I can run single-track trails for 2hrs+.


The tree-lined first section of trail


Crossing a saddle, the trail moves onto the other side of the spur. I have a photo (below) from that little stretch of road just left of the centre


An illegal construction in the Jungle. With all the chairs facing out like that, it looks like the perfect place to hold a Jungle Court!


Looking back while running up the curved road towards the slope I was running on 20 minutes previously (see the panorama above).

A great run and a course PB.

See you on the slopes!
~ Joe

Lost and Found - Sunday the 24th of October, 2010

With Super Typhoon Megi turning out to be a complete non-event and other constraints appearing, I hurriedly made plans to run early on Sunday morning. I'd previously ran section 1 of the MacLehose Trail (the route the Oxfam will take place) during a half-marathon event, and as my brother-in-law, Wai, assured me that section 2 was also flat, I was pretty confident of running both sections.

Section 1 starts in Pak Tam Chung in Hong Kong's far east, before winding along a road that skirts High Island Reservoir.


Running out along the road, the sun already fierce at 9.30am


Wai didn't like my suggestion of the team name: "The Wolf Pack". Maybe it doesn't sound as cool in Cantonese?


An alien looking over-flow drain. It'd be awesome to see this thing in action!


Reaching the Dam wall, which just about marks the end of Section 1

Section 2 (thankfully) moves off the road onto an occasionally paved, largely dirt but at some points hideously sandy trail. I was about to learn two things: 1. Section 2 is not flat as Wai described it; and 2. Hong Kong does have some beautiful beaches afterall!


Descending down to Long Ke Beach


Stunning!


Almost as good as an Australian beach... just missing waves!

Of course, after discovering the beach, I discovered point 1 as we quickly gained about 300m directly off the beach.


Quickly gained hight above the beach. The other hikers are using umbrellas for sun protection!


Section 2 then proceeds to follow the coastline, quickly gaining height before dropping down onto successive beaches!


Rocky downslope running


Onto the beach


Engineered to perfection, this wooden plank bridge crossing a river mouth


The final flat section before climbing the hill directly ahead to Pak Tam Au

A great run.




An awesome route that visits (from what I've seen) far and away, Hong Kong's best beaches. Next time I'll remember to pack a pair of bathers and a towel!

So...
Found: Hong Kong's most beautiful beaches.
Lost: My new Go-Lite running visor! T_T < that's a crying icon

After finishing the run, I took off my visor and pack, put it on top of the car and sat down to empty the sand out of my shoes. When I put my shoes back on and stood up, I picked up my pack and forgot my visor! It's probably sitting sadly alone on the ground in the Pak Tam Chung parking lot.

At least it saw about 130kms in the ~2 weeks I had it. Now I'll have to hunt around for a replacement!

Mourning my loss...
~ Joe

What Typhoon? - Friday the 22nd of October, 2010

Friday was supposed to be when Super Typhoon Megi was closest to Hong Kong but we didn't have serious winds or rains! Luckily, conditions were not too bad for a serious run so I choose a road run taking advantage of the overcast sky and cooler climate to push the pace a little.


Found this little guy hanging out just where I start my run


Hang Hau village lifestyle


Street level reflections


A graveyard for bikes

Overall I was quite happy with the run, pushing hard up the hills and making an alright time. I have a feeling that this 10km course will become important in trying to work hard and gain a little pace.

See you on the trails!
~ Joe

The 3rd Day - Wednesday the 20th of October, 2010

With my Asics on, I decided to head out along Little Hawaii Trail again. A third day of running in a row and my legs felt a little tired but strong. This was another uneventful and tough run so another mostly photos post.


Down the narrow stairs before a series of very step uphill (and downhill) fights


My own little "nerve-tester" along the trail. Calm the mind and the body will flow.


The path up to the right leads to the Razor Hill Trail (which is on my to-do list), but I didn't have the shoes or the motivation to do it on this run!


Mossy steps about 1km before emerging on the road at Tseng Lan Shue


The blocky, dramatic architecture of HKUST signals the end of my run

I was a little unhappy with the time of this quite tough run, but I suppose it wasn't too bad an effort, all things considered.

See you round the round.
~ Joe

The Steepest Slopes - Tuesday the 19th of October, 2010

I decided to run some seldom ran hills on Tuesday. While I frequently run down these roads, it's definitely their slope that stops me from running up them.


On the paved path, heading towards Hang Hau


Unfortunately it's paved with uneven, irregular stones... not conducive to fast speeds!


Track-side flowers


Hmmm... Paved stone steps or dirt trail... no competition!


Heading along the trail. My normal dirt-trail run comes out from those steps on the left.


Cross the road, jump the fence and head down this water-catchment access to get to the back of Hang Hau Village


Behind the school, heading towards the hospital and.... the hills!


It doesn't look like much, but the winding, relentless slope is soul-crushing



A relentless uphill section before cruising home.

See you on the trails!
~ Joe