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Mark Agnew

Harry Loasby has set the 66km Lantau Trail supported ‘fastest known time’ (FKT), taking 25 minutes off the previous record.
Not only did he leave with the tangible record in hand, but a number of lessons he will take forward to the Lantau Trail 70 (LT70) race in December.
“The approach was to treat it as a training run, as preparation for the LT70, time on the feet and practice fuelling,” Loasby said.
“I’d never done anything like that and I didn’t want the LT70 to be the first time I tried it when it counted. So I was always holding back a little bit but I used the FKT as a bonus to push when it got tough.”
The 25-year-old finished in seven hours, 53 minutes. The previous record of 8hrs 18 mins was set by Rudy Bottin in January.

Despite the impressive time, Loasby said he held back a bit, and was entirely focused on performing well at the LT70, which is a virtual race in December.
“It wasn’t easy, I just think I didn’t push to my absolute limit, I still have some left, which is what I wanted,” he said.
“I am so focused on the LT70, I knew that all the work I’m doing is for the LT70. I’ve avoided so many races, I gave up a space in the Standard Chartered Marathon. I just didn’t want to risk anything. All eyes on the goal, all eyes on the prize.”
Tired of red tape, Hong Kong record holder focuses on community
Loasby’s background is in road running, and he set a number of track records for Hong Kong youth and men, including the 3,000m.
But he became disillusioned with the red tape of the Hong Kong athletic scene. He turned to trail running when he set himself the challenge of hiking up Sunset Peak 100 times in 100 days.
Loasby has also set up a running club, which focuses on promoting a healthy, sustainable relationship with running for children, rather than a win-at-all-costs culture.
Since starting trail running, Loasby has been on a sharp learning curve. He ran the Lantau 2 Peaks race and really struggled with cramp.
He then ran a 55km and dropped out, before running 100km around his flat – it was 240 laps and he was joined by friends. He finished, but had a meltdown in the July heat.

“Those three experiences, where I had very bad showing, those are times when there were huge learning points. The FKT was a display that I learned from those, and I was able to execute damage control when I got dehydrated. And it showed I could exercise self-control, knowing the LT70 is the big one,” he said.
Still, there were more lessons to pick up from the challenge.
“It was definitely a struggle at the end, the last 10km was not great,” he said. “I was tired, I wanted to stop. I was on the verge of cramping a lot. It was really dry, I was covered in salt, my whole body. My shirt was like a crisp, and flaky. My whole face was white.
“The hydration was a good lesson, I got away with it but I’ll have to do it better for LT70,” he said.
Loasby was supported by his mother, who drove around Lantau giving him food and water.
“I couldn’t have done it without her,” he said. “She’s done 12 Trailwalkers, she knows what she’s doing. She gave me stuff I hadn’t thought of like chicken stock, which was a lifesaver.
“It is quite a bonus to do the FKT and still have something left in the tank because hopefully it means I can recover quickly, as it’s only six weeks or so to the LT70.
“And then, maybe I can give a bit more, or push the boundary a bit more and sit on my butt for Christmas.”


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Extreme fitness

Hong Kong trail runner Harry Loasby races around Lantau in record time as 70km event looms

Harry Loasby sets the Lantau Trail FKT in seven hours and 53 minutes. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong record runner Harry Loasby coaches youngsters to focus on fulfilment not performance, after growing tired of bureaucracy

Harry Loasby draws on more intrinsic values for running now, after growing tired of the bureaucracy of running for Hong Kong. Photos: Handout

Harry Loasby organising a running club, Buffalo Running Company, to create a pathway for young runners to enjoy their sport. Photo: Handout

Emotional Tsang sets Wilson Trail FKT by just 45 seconds despite running out of food and water

Stone Tsang Siu-keung sets the Wilson Trail FKT as he prepares for the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge. Photos: Asia Pacific Adventure

This handout image shows Agnes Cheng Ming-wai, runner with good friend Stone Tsang who finished the 2017 HK 4 Trails Ultra Challenge. [HEALTH FIT AND FAB]

Stone Tsang Siu-keung sets the Wilson Trail FKT as he prepares for the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge. Photo: Asia Pacific Adventure

Stone Tsang Siu-keung manages his target by 44 seconds.

Time for Hong Kong to embrace the FKT culture – what iconic route fits the bill?

Wong Ho-chung runs 360km around Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

Mark Western runs 360km around Hong Kong, establishing a new route that could be Hong Kong’s first Fastest Known Time trail. Photo: Handout

Mark Western became the first person to run around Hong Kong. He hugged the coast and the Shenzen boarder to complete the 360km journey for the Fred Hollows Foundation, which aims to cure blindness.

All the Fastest Known Time (FKT) routes in the world, but none in Hong Kong. Photo: fastestknowntime.com

Sport

Outdoor

Trail Running


Loasby sets 66km supported ‘fastest known time’ around island, knocking 25 minutes off previous best
But he says he held a little bit back with focus on performing during longer race in December



Harry Loasby sets 66km supported ‘fastest known time’ around island, knocking 25 minutes off previous best.


Oxfam Trailwalker

Hong Kong trail runner Harry Loasby races around Lantau in record time as 70km event looms

Loasby sets 66km supported ‘fastest known time’ around island, knocking 25 minutes off previous best But he says he held a little bit back with focus on performing during longer race in December

Loasby sets 66km supported ‘fastest known time’ around island, knocking 25 minutes off previous best

But he says he held a little bit back with focus on performing during longer race in December