Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon

When I signed up for the Hong Kong Marathon last summer, I expected just another typical race. The experience I ended up enjoying, however, was anything but typical. 

The story started at an evening training run with an outdoor social group I joined to meet new people in Hong Kong. The guy leading the training session asked if I would be interested in running the marathon dressed as a superhero.

Interested?  That's an understatement. I have been wanting to run a race in costume for a long time, and the mere suggestion of this possibility was beyond exciting for me.

I did not realize how easy it would be to find a Superman costume at a local market in Hong Kong. After a little tailoring and the addition of running shorts, I was garishly dressed for the occasion. 

The day before the race, we met for lunch to "test out" the costumes. For the first few minutes in public, my inner shy kid took over as I felt everyone's eyes (and a few camera lenses) on us. However, it didn't take long for my self-consciousness to adopt the persona of the costume. With "The Flash" and "Captain America" by my side, I started really enjoying the attention.

We first went to the pier and took some action shots in our best superhero poses. A small group of curious people came by to watch (and take photos with us) while we ran across the pavement, hung from poles, and jumped over park benches.

Photo montage that EJ made from our action shots on the pier

Our next destination was the nearby carnival. Before we could even make it through the gates, we had already taken about 20 pictures with families and small children. I'm not sure if they thought we worked at the carnival as entertainers, but we actually had to cut off the photos so we could keep moving! Over the next couple hours, we played games, rode bumper cars, and even went ice skating - all in costume. I was having so much fun at the carnival that I almost forgot we would be running 26.2 miles the next morning.

Ice Skating at the carnival

Even superheros need to have fun sometimes

More superhero fun from the carnival

On the morning of the race, I woke up early and went through my typical routine. I felt relaxed, knowing that the starting line was only 15 minutes from my apartment. The half marathon runners went past my window very early and I quadruple-checked to make sure I was not supposed to be part of the earlier group (slightly neurotic)!

After that, I completely lost track of time until I looked down at my watch and realized there was only about 25 minutes until the start of my group. With my heart pounding, I bolted out of the apartment, jogged through the adjacent park, and made it to the baggage truck just as they were closing up. I quickly walked into the starting corral without even an opportunity to stretch. Five minutes later, the race had begun.

I decided long before today that this would be nothing more than a fun run, so I took a very relaxed pace and savored the sounds of people shouting "Superman!" from the sidewalks.

Less than 5k into the race, I saw someone wearing all red...a surprisingly similar costume to Alfredo, except that he was meant to be in the earlier wave so it couldn't be him...or could it be?
 
As I got closer, I noticed the lightening bolts on the side of his hat and realized that it was, in fact, "The Flash". I pulled up next to him and we started talking. As it turns out, we actually started in the same wave. I was thrilled to have a running partner.

Alf, "The Flash" stands out from the crowd.

Before long,  a sexy Supergirl in a blue leotard and a red cape passed us and we yelled encouraging words to each other. The Flash and I also met a runner from Guangzhou named Jerry who seemed overly enthusiastic about joining our little superhero group. 

At around the 12k mark, we started seeing other runners along an out-and-back portion of the course and I was excited to notice several other fun costumes. There was a pair of Nintendo characters (Mario and Luigi), multiple people dressed in a full shark costume, and several other superheroes in slightly less elaborate outfits. Every time we passed another character, we would shout words of encouragement as if we were best friends. One thing I love about races is how everyone supports each other in our common quest to finish. We will never see any of these people again, yet we selflessly put our competitive spirits aside for the day to encourage one another.

Mario makes his way along the course

Just one of several people in an incredible shark costume!

Before reaching the 20km mark, Jerry could no longer keep up with our pace and we lost him in the voracious crowd. Fortunately, The Flash was still going strong despite playing a soccer game the evening before. This was the first time I had ever run with someone during a race, but chatting throughout the course really made the kilometers pass quickly.

At some point near the 30km mark, we started merging with the half marathon runners and we got to see an entirely new group of people (and costumes). One girl wearing a kimono stood out to us as having the best costume, but there were also many other gems. I was surprised by the number of runners carrying yellow umbrellas as a silent, yet blatant reminder that negative sentiment stemming from the democracy protest has not been forgotten.

Just before we approached the Victoria Harbour tunnel at kilometer 35, Alfredo started slowing his pace and I inadvertently picked up speed as we descended into the tunnel. I looked back to find him but the lightening bolts were nowhere to be seen. I debated with myself: Do I hold back and run with him to the finish line or pick up speed and get this race over with?

My selfish side won out this time, as I transitioned into beast mode for the final five miles. It was amazing how much energy I still had left as I breezed past people on the crowded Hong Kong streets (this part of the course felt a little too bottlenecked for my taste). The crowd support at this point was much stronger, and I heard many cheers for “Superman” as I aggressively weaved my way through fellow runners.

The finish line was expertly set up to resemble a stage, and there was a huge screen that broadcast candid shots of the runners. I looked up to see a close-up of myself, which was both surreal and intimidating! I believe the finish line is the most important part of a race because it can make each runner feel like a superstar.

At the baggage claim area, I was excited to see my Supergirl from the race. As we chatted, the costume effect again attracted random people who asked to have their photos taken with us. I find it so endearing that I only need a HK$150 costume to achieve quasi-celebrity status here.

Chatting with Supergirl after the race

I found the lady with the amazing kimono costume!

When I think back to the Hong Kong marathon in future years, I will always associate it with the costumes. Not only did I enjoy dressing up myself, but I loved seeking out other runners with a similar sense of fun. The 2015 Hong Kong Marathon introduced me to a new dimension of the race experience, and I cannot wait to dress up again for future running events.

Below are some of my favorite costumes from the race: 

My little piggy?

Football player or rubbish collector??

Another superhero pairing

Golden boy

I have no words.

Another Captain America!

Orange antler man?

I wish that snickers bar attached to his back was real...

Not sure if this is a costume!

Vineyard man?

This looks comfortable

Dinosaur? Turtle? Lizard?

Phuket, Thailand

Phuket is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, and after spending two weeks on the island, I can completely understand the appeal. The natural beauty is undeniable, nightlife is crazy, and the people are just incredible. Of course the food is also amazing (I could eat Thai food every day for the rest of my life and be completely satisfied). January is also one of the best times of year to visit Phuket. Weather was warm, but not oppressive, and it didn’t rain once throughout the entire two weeks.

The island has a very mountainous landscape, which means that everyone will get a good workout at some point in their vacation. My hotel was built into the side of a mountain, so I had to climb up the equivalent of a 20-story building every day just to reach my room, the gym, and the club lounge. On the bright side, most of the rooms had amazing high views of the coastline.

View from the club lounge at my hotel

I can’t speak for all hotels, but mine did not have direct beach access. Instead, it relied on a massive infinity-edge pool. Personally, I would much rather swim in a pool than in the ocean, so I was perfectly happy. The poolside bar service was an added benefit (although this is Thailand…even the beaches have people walking around to sell drinks). 

I will take a pool over a beach any day

When the weekend came along, my colleagues insisted on showing me a big night out. It started with dinner at a local seafood place that looked more like a pet store than a restaurant. In the front were giant fish tanks where you could catch your own meal. They grilled it up right in front of us and then delivered it to the table. It doesn’t get fresher than that! 
 

The "chef" grilling up our dinner

One of many tasty seafood options at dinner

After dinner, we went to Patong beach for a more traditional tourist experience. As we walked through the strip of bars on Bangla Road, I was amazed by the number of girls dancing on stripper poles. My brother would have loved these places, but I actually found them trashy and uncomfortable. Fortunately, my colleagues did not take me to any of these places. Instead, they booked a private table at a nightclub called Seduction, which was a complete contrast to the bars surrounding it. The clientele was still very casual, but the environment was much more sophisticated. My favorite parts of the experience (besides the VIP bottle service) were the acrobatic performances and costumed dancers on stage. Even though I would not have chosen to visit Patong beach on my own, I’m glad I got to experience real Phuket nightlife.

One of the less appealing bars on Bangla Road

More girls dancing on poles

Performance at Seduction Nightclub

Dancer at Seduction Nightclub

The next day was much more low-key, as I spent some time at a nearby beach called Kamala. Just like everywhere else in Thailand, it is full of bargain massage studios and street vendors selling delicious food and drinks. I timed my visit to coincide with the sunset, which was more stunning than anything I have ever seen before. I have never been to Hawaii, but I would imagine that it rivals what I saw in Kamala. 

Kamala Beach

Romantic (topless) setting at Kamala Beach

Sunset at Kamala Beach

Sun setting on Kamala Beach

Sunday, my colleagues arranged an excursion to nearby Phi Phi Island in Krabi. We started the day super early to catch the ferry, which took about 2.5 hours to reach the island. Most of the trip was in the open seas, but as we arrived at the island, we were treated to the most stunning cliffs that emerged from the ocean like they had been dropped from the sky. There were quite a few secluded caves, which were perfect for kayaking.

Arriving at Phi Phi Island

Spectacular cliffs jutting out of the water

We decided to take a snorkeling trip, which was another first for me. The boat docked and we all jumped off the side into the clear blue water. I have an irrational fear of breathing out of a tiny tube with my face under water, but I calmed myself down after practicing for a few minutes. I was amazed by the number of fish that swam past me as they effortlessly avoided my grip (yes, I tried touching them). When I swam closer to the coastline, I noticed some beautiful corals but I was afraid of stepping on the jagged rocks so close to my next marathon, so I didn’t spend too much time in the shallow waters. 

In order to attract the fish, the workers on the boat were tossing small pieces of bread off the edge of the boat. It worked like a charm and there were literally thousands of fish that surrounded all of us. After this short experience, I am now really interested in taking an extended diving vacation to the Great Barrier Reef. That will be on my bucket list before leaving Asia.

The scene around the boat

Proof that the fish were everywhere!

There's always one guy who tries to catch the fish!

After snorkeling, we returned to the island for lunch and some free time to relax on the beaches. Despite being made famous by the movie The Beach (14 years ago), it seems like they are just now developing Phi Phi Island into an overnight tourist destination. Unfortunately, the seasonality in Thailand makes it difficult for companies to have a successful year-round business.

Finally arriving on Phi Phi Island

Boats lined up along the shore

Our group on the beach!

The sun was beginning to set when we returned to Phuket, so my colleagues took me to a lighthouse on a cliff, which is known for having some of the most spectacular sunsets in the world. I was tired at this point, but I still appreciated the gesture. The ride back to the hotel took over an hour, which displayed the large size of the island and the lack of express roads. The entire time, we were basically weaving our way through little beachside neighborhoods that looked surprisingly similar to one another.

Another beautiful sunset in Phuket

My second week in Phuket was just like the first. I looked out from my window at paradise every morning, drank Thai iced tea from the local street vendor (hand-delivered by my extremely generous local friends), and savored evening dinners al fresco by the pool. I can totally see why so many people choose Phuket as a romantic getaway, but I think it is also a great destination for a group of friends or a bachelor party (thanks to the nightlife).

Without a doubt, Thailand is one of my favorite countries in the world to visit, and Phuket lives up to the hype. It has a similar feeling as Aruba, except the nightlife is more over-the-top, the prices are much more reasonable, and the views from the cliffs are even more stunning. Would I go back? In a heartbeat.