Fa Ge takes selfies with fellow runners. Picture source:
Every year at the Hong Kong Marathon, the runway is always star-studded. In this edition that just concluded, 68-year-old Chow Yun-fat is undoubtedly the most dazzling star.
Last Sunday, the 2024 Hong Kong Marathon started. The scale of this event returned to 74,000 people - Chow Yun-fat, who challenged Chow Yun-fat for 10 kilometers in the Hong Kong Marathon last year, once again returned to a familiar track, and finally finished in 2 hours, 26 minutes and 8 He finished the race in seconds, setting a new personal best in the half marathon (PB).
It took Chow Yun-fat more than half a year to prepare from 10 kilometers to his first half-marathon, but it only took Chow Yun-fat less than three months from his first half-marathon to improving his PB by more than one minute.
Chow Yun-fat finished the race in 2 hours, 26 minutes and 8 seconds.
Refreshed the half marathon pb, still not satisfied
Black vest, black sweatpants, and sunglasses, 68-year-old Chow Yun-fat once again stood on the Hong Kong Marathon track in the familiar dress he is known to the outside world in the running circle.
About a year ago, Chow Yun-fat also wore a similar low-key look and completed the 10 kilometers of the Hong Kong Marathon. At that time, his time was 1 hour, 3 minutes and 58 seconds, ranking third among more than 20,000 10 kilometers competitors. 5103 bits. Now, Chow Yun-fat, who is one year older, is challenging the more difficult half marathon.
Chow Yun-fat himself said that he ate a rice ball and an egg before starting. The strategy of the game was to "stay in front and fight for the back". He maintained the target speed in the front and enjoyed the game in the back.
According to the split timing of Chow Yun-fat's finish, his pace in the first half was indeed relatively slow, staying at about 7 minutes and 47 seconds; while his pace in the second half increased steadily, staying around 6 minutes and 55 seconds.
This is enough to show that Chow Yun-fat now not only has considerable running ability, but also can race according to his own strategy and pace without interference from the outside world.
Although he finally refreshed his PB with a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 8 seconds, Chow Yun-fat was not satisfied.
According to his statement, this time his result was about 4 minutes slower than he expected, which also caused him to "have his bonus deducted if he does not meet the standard, and 100 yuan will be deducted for every minute."
However, he still set a new record in PB. The credit goes to the runners around him - he joked in an interview that there were many fans "bodyguards" helping him clear the way along the way, which allowed him to run comfortably all the time.
Want to become Hong Kong's Forrest Gump
When he completed the 10-kilometer race in 1 hour, 03 minutes and 58 seconds last year, Chow Yun-fat's running ability has been recognized by many people.
At that time, his average pace was about "624", which meant that he spent about 6 minutes and 24 seconds per kilometer. For ordinary amateur runners, this pace was already considered an "above average" level.
According to the comparison of professional data, this result belongs to the second level of the public in the age group where "Fa Ge" is. Now, when Chow Yun-fat participates in the Hong Kong Marathon for the second time, his half-marathon pace can still be maintained at about 7 minutes.
"I am very happy to see so many elders running with me. I hope to encourage more Hong Kong people to join the ranks of sports. I will work harder next year and strive for 2 hours and 15 minutes (finish)." Chow Yun-fat himself said, "I want to be Hong Kong's 'Forrest Gump' and run all over the world."
When frequently associated with running in recent years, Chow Yun-fat's obsession with running really has a "Forrest Gump" flavor.
According to media reports, Chow Yun-fat accidentally fell down while running and suffered a fractured bone. The doctor recommended that he take a two-month rest and stop running. However, only half a month later, he was photographed running on the street by fans.
When he was asked when he would challenge the full marathon, Chow Yun-fat's answer was also quite "Forrest Gump":
If he could run the half marathon under 2 hours, he would consider it, and he joked that he might be 90 years old. You will be able to do it by then, and then you will be able to challenge the entire marathon.
"Running is a kind of enjoyment"
Regardless of whether Chow Yun-fat will stand on the marathon track in the future, his story with running is already inspiring enough.
Over the past seven years, running has become the most important part of Chow Yun-fat's life - no matter where he goes to participate in activities, he will always run several times.
During the promotion of the movie "Wu Shuang", the 63-year-old Chow Yun-fat "ran wherever he promoted". For example, when promoting in Beijing, he ran with his team members in Chaoyang Park.
Over time, "caught in the wild" has become a hot word in the running circle.
As early as during the filming of "Macau Storm 3", Chow Yun-fat, who was a little fat, started running and climbing in order to lose weight. Every morning at 8 o'clock, he would wear sportswear and run in Tai Mo Shan Country Park.
In the beginning, it took Chow Yun-fat nearly two hours from going up the mountain to going down the mountain. After insisting on it for more than half a year, Chow Yun-fat found that he had lost 27 pounds. Not only did he get better, but he also became happier the more he ran. From then on, running gradually became a necessary part of life. "I don't run half a day every day." Never give up for an hour."
Chow Yun-fat and Carina Lau (left) climb a mountain together.
Due to the geographical location close to the mountains and the sea, Hong Kong people like to "hike", and Chow Yun-fat is also a member of the mountain climbing army.
Looking through Chow Yun-fat's social account, many of the photos and status updates he shared were of running with friends from the entertainment industry, including Carina Lau, Alan Tam, Du Dewei, etc.
"Thank you Fa Ge for your leadership. Being able to face nature like this also gives me a chance to take a breather away from the busy city." Du Dewei once expressed his gratitude to Chow Yun-fat for taking him to exercise together.
Indeed, running is not about how fast or how far you run, but about persisting and running for yourself to be healthy and happy. Just like the concept that Chow Yun-fat has always conveyed when talking about running, "Running is not only a lifestyle habit, but also a kind of enjoyment."
