Last September I made a decision on a whim. Certainly it's up there with my biggest loss of marbles / captain insano decisions I've made yet. But I've made the commitment and this weekend will be the day of reckoning.
The Green Power Hike 2019 starts at stupid o'clock at Hong Kong Island's The Peak and (for me) will end fifty kilometres later at Deep Water Bay.
I do have history with this race having done the same course and distance every year from 2009 to 2014. It's mostly flat concrete and trail but there are some hellish steep roads and a number of hills to conquer.
After doing 25Km legs are tired and there are three hills with hundreds of steps to get over before a long, winding road and an ultra boring catchwater to drag yourself around.
A good proportion of the first half is on muddy trails through the jungle. It's just a matter of digging in and walking trying to keep in track of a four-hour target for the first 25Km.
My best finish time was 8 hours 15 minutes and worse, 9:45. My target this time is anywhere between 7 and 10 hours. Just finishing will be an achievement.
I used to eat nothing during the race except for the fruit given out at the checkpoints. This time, I aim to be eating regularly to maintain energy levels for the up parts and to make sure my salt levels are maintained.
There's no doubt in my mind that I'll finish. It's going to be a hard slog. There's going to be a lot of swearing, yet I'm going to do it.