TransLantau by UTMB: organisers of Hong Kong trail run apologise after runner complaints
Hundreds of runners in the 50km event went without water, while many slam poor organisation, ‘having to fend for themselves’ during typhoon
Organisers of Hong Kong’s TransLantau by UTMB ultra-marathon have apologised after a “misunderstanding” and “miscommunication” meant hundreds of runners in the 50-kilometre event went without water on November 9.
Race director Jules Pijourlet told the Post that affected athletes would be given free entry to next year’s race as compensation.
Of the 832 runners in the 50km race, 151 did not finish, and athletes across all events complained of poor organisation and having to “fend for themselves” when they arrived at the finish line at night in the middle of a typhoon.
“We are very sorry, it’s clearly a problem, but we had a debrief with the rescue team and no runners were injured,” Pijourlet said.
“For the runners of the TransLantau 50 in waves two and three, and those who left [the race] at CP [checkpoint] one, CP two and CP three, we will offer them free entry for TransLantau 25 or 50 next year.”
TransLantau is a trail run across Lantau Island, with four events ranging from 25km to 130km. This year, runners took off from Mui Wo on November 8 to 10.
