12 Year Old Pauline Courret Wins the Ricoh Healthy Hike & Run 2018

Press Release / 18.03.2018

Pauline Courret upstaged the adults once again at the Ricoh Healthy Hike & Run at Tai Lam Country Park this morning, running away with the women’s title in the five kilometre race for the second straight year.

Pauline, who has lived in Hong Kong almost all her life, started trail running with her dad and brother when she was seven years old. Confessing her love for running, she shared her philosophy for being motivated: “What I’ve learned from running is that you have to believe in yourself no matter what. When you don’t feel the motivation to get out, you have to go and then the motivation will come.” The 12-year-old French schoolgirl clocked 26 minutes 40 seconds to be the youngest among six podium toppers of the event, a popular annual trail race that also offered 13km and 19km distances.

Enthusiasm was definitely not lacking among the hundreds of participants at the Ricoh Healthy Hike & Run, who were flagged off bright and early at 8.30am from Tai Tong Road BBQ area. And the participants were duly rewarded for their efforts with a fantastic morning on beautiful trails and a great community race atmosphere.

Hong Kong’s King Long Wat a regular participant of Action Asia Events’ races. “I enjoyed today’s course design a lot as the scenery was stunning and fresh with the pond, reservoir, jungle, etc. I will come back again next year and challenge myself with 19km race and will for sure to recommend to my friends as well,” said King Long, also the overall winner of the 13km race (1:3:45).

Hong Kong’s Nicky Inge just started running this year and she spoke highly of the event. “The race was very fun, smooth and very well organized. Volunteers and marshals were extremely helpful. Trail running is really fun, and many people would try it if they come to Hong Kong!” Inge said. (Nicky Inge also won the female champion title of the 13km race of Ricoh Healthy Hike & Run in 1:21:55)

Emilie Saint-pé of France, winner of the women’s 19km title in 1:49:58, said: “I liked the course a lot. I would recommend this course to people who want to start trail running, because it’s quite flat and not very technical. It’s a really good race for beginners. The scenery was beautiful, and there were extremely nice people on the trail!”

Less than five minutes behind Saint-pé in second place was American Mia Bennett (1:54:34). She said: “It’s a fun and challenging race with lots of uphills and downhills and beautiful areas to run through along the reservoir. I really enjoyed the cool adventurous part where we went through the jungle and came out and saw the shore. I love getting out and exploring the city by trail running.”

The men’s 19km winner in a speedy 1:27:52 was John Ray Onifa from the Philipines, who was racing in Hong Kong for the first time. “I loved the course design and especially the technical parts. I don’t think the Philippines has many trails like this, so I will join the next one for sure,” he said.

Austrian Michael Skobierski, second in the 19km in 1:31:54, also sang praises of the course. “I really liked it! Although I usually don’t have much time to look at the scenery, I noticed that the terrain is very diverse here, so it’s nice to be in nature like this. I will recommend my friends to join it too next year,” he said.

Last but not least of the day’s podium toppers was Andrea Cloarec, the overall champion of the 5km race in 24:27. “I have been in Hong Kong for six months now and this is my second Action Asia Events race that I have finished. I really enjoyed the course,” he said.

Mr. Aaron Yim, Managing Director of Ricoh Hong Kong, the event’s title sponsor, said: “Ricoh is pleased to sponsor and participate in the Ricoh Healthy Hike & Run. We hope to encourage everyone to leave your busy work places, enjoy nature and drive sustainability this spring time. We are committed to teamwork, environmental education and green living, and dedicated to being a trusted partner of empowering your digital workplaces.”

This event was possible thanks to the generous support of Ricoh. Special thanks to supporting sponsors Action X Store, HOKA One One, Royale International, C3fit, GATORADE, Budějovický Budvar, SALONSIP and Action Asia Foundation.