SCMP：TransLantau by UTMB: visually impaired Hong Kong runner takes on 25km race to show ‘we can’

2023-11-12

OutdoorTrail Running

TransLantau by UTMB: visually impaired Hong Kong runner takes on 25km race to show ‘we can’

Organisers introduce new adaptive athlete policy allowing visually impaired and those with learning difficulties to use guide runners

Liang Zhang says ultra running makes him happy, ahead of challenge this weekend

Trail running and hiking

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Mark Agnew

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Published: 12:00pm, 11 Nov, 2023

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In the past Hong Kong runner Liang Zhang would not have been allowed to take part in this weekend’s TransLantau races because he is visually impaired.

The 44-year-old has been dealing with a lack of sight since birth, and the event, which is organised by UTMB, previously made no allowances for guide runners.

Now, however, a change in policy means adaptive athletes physically capable of finishing the course will be allowed guides to accompany them on all or parts of the race.

And Zhang is taking full advantage of that, competing in the 25km event, which starts on Sunday morning.

Liang Zhang (right) at the Fearless Dragon running club Photo: Handout

Zhang trains with the Fearless Dragon running club, which encourages adaptive runners, and deaf runners guide blind runners. Fearless Dragon is a pun and in Cantonese it sounds like “blind” and “deaf” – “maang” and “lung”

“We have a we can spirit [at Fearless Dragon], we believe together, we can. Although we are disabled people, we are able to do anything together,” Zhang said.

The Translantau is one of the UTMB World Series events. Runners are awarded “stones” for completing the event, which add up to help them qualify for the final UTMB event in Chamonix.

And this weekend, which starts with the 129km race on Friday evening, also includes runs over 100km and 50km.

“Ultra running makes me happy, and I just need to follow the guide runner, no need to think too much,” Zhang said. “I believe I can do it. Also I believe the guide runner can lead me to the end together. I believe in Fearless Dragon team and our guide runners.”

Fearless Dragon running club on the trails. Photo: Handout

Zhang thinks the new adaptive athlete rules will serve to educate others in Hong Kong about the capabilities of runners.

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“It lets people knows what we can do, and not to focus on what we cannot,” he said.

Mok Kim-wing, founder of the Fearless Dragon Running Club, welcomed the change in policy, which he hoped would encourage “more people with a disability” to take part in trail running.

“Adaptive athletes cannot reach mountain tops or their trail dreams because of the lack of opportunities, not because of their abilities,” he said.

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Mark Agnew

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Mark Agnew

Mark Agnew joined the Post in 2017 to capture the booming extreme sports scene in Hong Kong. He has been involved in outdoor and extreme sports his whole life. Since living in Hong Kong, his interest has expanded to endurance sports, including ultra-running and long distances ocean rowing.

Trail running and hiking

https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3240991/translantau-utmb-visually-impaired-hong-kong-runner-takes-25km-race-show-we-can