What distances do you cover to get prepared?
I try to run or hike at least 10km a day during the week. This is a challenge, because I work full-time and commute 2 hours a day. The only free time I have is early in the morning or at lunch. On weekends, I spend Saturday and Sunday hiking and running – I try cover at least 50km a weekend.
Actually, Hong Kong is great for training. There are many steep hills to climb and a country park system that goes on for hundreds of kilometers. I’m also trying to do as many long-distance races as I can in the months leading up to the race as a way to stay motivated.
For example, my husband and I are running a 76km race around Hong Kong Island. We’ve done this kind of race before. It's a good part of my training.
Are there any exercises that are helping you prepare for the desert and the distance you're going to cover?
I’m trying to build endurance, especially during the weekends, so I toughen up my body and my feet. It’s always a learning process to see how your body reacts to intense training.
I’m also working on strength training at the gym, trying to keep as flexible as possible and concentrating on my stride, as directed by our team podiatrist. Also, once it starts to get hot and humid, I’ll have to carry a lot of weight in water bottles. Again, this will help for training to carry my backpack throughout the race.
What about mental preparation? Is there anything you’re doing to prepare for the conditions you're going to face?
I have been a long-distance runner and hiker since I was a kid in Powell River [British Columbia]. In addition, my first degree was in Archaeology, which I did for almost 4 years after university.
Archaeology involves a lot of survey work, which is just walking an area, looking for any signs of human activity. I’ve spent weeks walking by myself or with just one other person doing survey and I loved it. I guess I mentally trained through this survey work, so I’m rarely bored on the trail. I just love being outside.
Because I’ve done so much long-distance running and hiking, I built up the mental endurance - very important when your body is hurting and you still have 20km left to go. That, and I just know I can do almost anything I set my mind to, as long as I keep trying.
Do you do anything for motivation? Is there someone you talk to, a book you read, a movie or a song that inspires you?
I’m motivated by the love of the challenge and the fact that I love being in nature and seeing what’s around the next corner. My father and I used to run every day for years when I was growing up, and I suppose I think sometimes about that – the peace of being in the forest when all you can hear are your footsteps and the forest around you. It’s a nice memory that I try to keep alive, no matter where I’m living – even here in Hong Kong.
Why are you doing this? Obviously, you're concerned about the plight of sharks, but tell me about when you first became aware of the problem? What went through your mind and when did you decide you had to get involved?
I'm doing this because I'm passionate about wanting to make a difference about the environment.
I grew up in Sabah, Malaysia and the West Coast of British Columbia, both beautiful, maritime environments. I’ve seen both of these environments become seriously degraded as the years have gone by, especially in the oceans.
I’ve also lived and travelled in Asia extensively. You can’t help but notice some of the practices that are taking place here, such as shark finning and the consumption of shark fin – how cruel and excessive these are. Once I started to dive, I also learned more about the delicate balance that exists in the oceans, and that sharks as an apex predator really are crucial and indicators of ocean health.
Unfortunately, I've seen many many more dead sharks than live ones. There's an area of Hong Kong that specializes in dried seafood, called Sheung Wan. I used to live close to this part of town and would walk by these shops every day, each selling hundreds of shark fins – from massive whale shark fins to tiny baby shark fins – the numbers are overwhelming.
Sharks just don’t stand a chance in the face of modern fishing techniques. We’re simply fishing them into extinction with little thought of the repercussions. To me, this is symbolic of many of the unsustainable, cruel and thoughtless practices people are engaged in or allowing.
One person can’t do everything, you have to pick something to stand up for, so protecting our beautiful oceans from damage is one of the things I want to do.
How did you come up with this idea?
When I met Denvy, she told me about the race. As soon as she mentioned it, I knew I wanted to do it. I’ve been interested in this area of China for years and I think this will be a great way to visit. So now Denvy and I are both raising money for Shark Rescue.
Why the desert?
Actually, I love the humidity and the forest and jungle much more than I love the desert. But I’m very interested in experiencing the Gobi in this intense way. It’s going to be amazing - a great challenge. Anyway, doing things that are easy is rarely a challenge.
What will be in your pack and how much will it weigh?
The organizers only provide water for our water bottles, medical care if we need it, and tents for us to sleep in at night. We need to carry everything else. The race is 6 days long, and I plan to carry no more than 9kg. This includes two servings of dehydrated food a day, snacks to give me energy between meals, a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, extra clothing, sunscreen, an iPod, camera, solar charger, medical supplies and a blister kit for my poor feet!
What do you expect to be thinking and feeling when you're at the starting line?
I’ll probably be nervous – I’m always a little nervous before a race. I don’t plan to run the whole way, but this will still be a race with myself. I’ll just try to get the best time I can. So I’ll also be very excited!
What are you going to do after the race?
We’re expected to spend the night in Urumqi in a hotel, and then I fly back to Hong Kong in the morning. Actually, I’ll be starting a new job the day after that. My new colleagues may be a bit surprised by my appearance! My new boss already knows I'll have just finished racing 250km in the Gobi, so I think she’s just hoping that I come back alive.
What did your friends and family say when you told them about this idea?
People who know me well were not too surprised. My father, husband and close friends are extremely supportive, although they're concerned that I be careful and train well. They know I’m adventurous and that I love to challenge myself. People who don’t know me as much are surprised that I would put myself through an extreme challenge like this. Some people might think it’s crazy, but that’s just because they probably haven’t done this kind of thing and don’t know how amazing these kinds of long-distance challenges can be.
What do you hope will happen as a result of this race in terms of sharks?
I hope it will influence how people in Hong Kong view the consumption of shark fin. Many don’t even question where shark fin comes from, let alone realize how unsustainable it is. I hope to encourage a debate within the Chinese community, so people can learn and make educated choices about what they’re consuming in the name of ‘culture’ and ‘face’.
What do you hope this race will do for you on a personal level?
It will help me better appreciate what I’m capable of achieving. Sometimes, we can get caught up in our daily lives and life passes us by with little fanfare. This will be an intense physical and mental challenge, and it will be something I remember for years to come. My favourite saying is a little cheesy, but appropriate:
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain
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