Preparation

Equipment


Checklist of Equipment for Physical Hike

Green Tips: No bottled drinks and paper cups will be provided. Participants should bring 2 bottles for water and Pocari Sweat refill.
Number Cloth (with timing chip and baggage storage tag) Hiking Stick
Identification Documents & Small
Amounts of Money
Whistle (For emergency)
Water and 2 bottles Sticking-plasters and first aid kit
Fully Charged Mobile Phone Food
Masks (for use and change) Hat, windbreaker and thick socks
Headlamp and torch with adequate batteries Towel
Map Raincoat
Compass Spare Clothes
Disinfectant and alcohol-based hand sanitizer

*The Organiser will not offer any bags for your baggage. Participants are advised to use a bag with zipper to prevent your belongings from falling out.


Checklist of Equipment for Virtual Hike

Identification Documents & Small
Amounts of Money
Whistle (For emergency)
Water Sticking-plasters and first aid kit
Fully Charged Mobile Phone with TRAILME app installed Food
Masks (for use and change) Hat, windbreaker and thick socks
Headlamp and torch with adequate batteries Towel
Map Raincoat
Compass Spare Clothes
Hiking Stick Disinfectant and alcohol-based hand sanitizer

The information below is provided by Green Power Hike winning athlete, Sports Physiotherapist in Centre of Rehabilitation & Exercising Specialist, Mr. Elton NG:

Basic Equipment
  1. A detailed map and a compass are necessities to avoid getting lost. For detailed maps about the entire Hong Kong Trail, please call the Map Sales Outlets at 2231 3187 / 2780 0981 or ISD Publications Sales Unit at 2537 1910. Or, please click Map for the route by sections.
  2. Bring torches/ headlamps and batteries with you for night walking.
  3. The weather can change dramatically. Please bring enough protective warm clothing and sunscreen. We also suggest participants to bring along raincoats, waterproof backpacks or to pack possessions in plastic bags inside backpacks to prevent them from getting wet.
  4. Weather will get cooler and windier at night, participants should bring along windbreakers to keep warm.
  5. Remember to bring extra socks and clothing for change.
  6. Participants should bring enough food and water, and include replenishment points and emergency retreat routes during route planning.
  7. Please bring your own first aid kit and medicine in case of emergencies during the event.
  8. A hiking stick can be a great help for hiking.
  9. Bring your cell phone and emergency money.

Choice of Shoes
Style: As about two-thirds of Hong Kong Trail is paved path, you are advised to wear a pair of hiking or running shoes that suits long distance hiking.
Size: Shoes should have sufficient space for your feet. After the socks are on, there should be at least 1 cm space between the toes and tip of the toebox, because the toes will slide forward when you walk down the slope. If you do not allow enough space, then the extremely high pressure on tip of toes will lead to blisters or even damaged or detached toenails.
Type: Normal feet → Neutral running shoes; Flat feet → Support running shoes; High arches → Cushion running shoes
Others: Brand new shoes should not be worn on the day of the event; those with flat feet can wear support shoes with tailor-made insoles; prepare an extra pair of shoes for emergency; have a pedicure 2 days before the event to avoid injuries to the toes when going downhill.

Preparation & Training

Benefits:

  • Promote blood and nutrient supply to involved joints.
  • Increase flexibility of our body.
  • Reduce risks of injuries and muscle soreness.

Hints:

  • Do the stretching slowly and smoothly.
  • Hold on to the stretching poses. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds for every pose
  • Repeat stretching for at least 4 times for each leg.
  • Stretching has to be done consistently before, after and during the event.
Stretching Demonstrations
Stretching section
Demonstrations
Notes
Right Hip Flexor
  1. Kneel down on the floor or bed, left leg in front, right leg at the back.
  2. Slowly move your body forward until your right groin is stretched.
  3. Remember to keep the upper body up straight.
Right Gluteus Maximus
  1. Lie down, bend both legs.
  2. Spread right leg out.
  3. Left leg carries right leg; drag both legs toward the body until your right buttock is stretched.
Right Iliotibial Band
  1. Stand up with crossed legs, right leg at the back.
  2. Lower down your body and bow to the left until your right outer thigh is stretched.
Right Quadriceps
  1. Stand up, bend the right leg and hold it up with your right hand.
  2. Keep the body straight until your right thigh is stretched.
Right Hamstring
  1. Sit down, left leg aside, straighten the right leg.
  2. Bend the hip with your back straight until the back of your right thigh is stretched.
Right Calf
  1. Stand up with left leg in front, right leg behind.
  2. Move the body forward; hold the right leg straight with the right foot touching the floor until your right calf is stretched.

To deal with a 50 km hike, your needs to prepare your body based on the following basic principles:

  • Principle of specificity: Training effect is specific to the training mode (type of activity), training volume and intensity, speed and technique used, e.g. training effect gained from swimming have no obvious benefit to running performance.
  • (Progressive) Overloading Principle: A progressive overloading to our body maintain the training stimulus for progressive improvement in physical performance.
  • Hard / easy mode: A little variation of total training volume have a better performance outcome.
  • Training intensity and volume: Every sport has its characteristics. A plan has to be developed that suits your needs of your goal, according to those characteristics (Including intensity, time and frequency) to achieve an effective outcome. Most importantly to reduce the risks of injury.
  • Tapering: Reduce the training intensity and volume gradually before the event to enhance the actual performance during the event.
Good walking and running gait improve movement economy and reduce risks of injuries. However, gait analysis is sophisticated. If you think that you are not feeling well because of abnormality of your foot shape or inappropriate jogging and hiking posture, please check with a sport physiotherapist.

The whole span of the Hong Kong Trail is 50 kilometers and composes of 8 divisions and with different difficulty. Participants are recommended to start with the easiest division. Do not try to challenge the hard divisions at the beginning to avoid injuries.

Recommendation:

  • Beginners From the 1st to the 2nd division or from the 3rd to the 4th division, or the 5th and the 8th divisions (Carried out as 2 divisions)
  • Advanced From the 1st to the 4th division or from the 5th to the 8th division (Carried out as 4 divisions)
  • Since the sense of distance and direction at nighttime are not the same as in daylight, therefore, if hiking at nighttime is expected, then training during the nighttime of that particular division is recommended to adapt to the environment and to familiarize yourself with the use of torches or headlamps
  • The whole route should be finished towards the end of the training. (But not within ten days before the event) Appropriate adjustment can be made after you familiar with your own capability.
  • Green Power Hike is a demanding hike; it requires a week for adjustment (tapering). Therefore, training intensity and duration has to be reduced gradually a week before the event.
  • No training on the day before the event and one should have proper rest on the night before the event.
  • The frequency and the duration of breaks during the hike depend on different people. Participants are recommended to have frequent short breaks instead of long breaks; otherwise sore muscles will only get more serious and stiff due to the accumulation of the lactic acid.
  • Warm-up exercises have to be done before the commencement of the event and after every break to reduce the risk of muscular injury.
Cardiopulmonary fitness training guidelines for generally healthy adult (FITT):
  • Frequency (Training rate): 3 to 5 days per week
  • Intensity (Training magnitude): Training magnitude should be about 60%- 80% of the maximum exertion
  • Time (Training duration): About 20 to 30 minutes
  • Type: Aerobic sports that involved most of the large muscle group
Type: Aerobic sports that involved most of the large muscle group

Example: Beginners should start with training like hiking, such as walking along slopes, jogging etc., and should be carried out 3 times per week, with about 15-30 minutes duration and medium intensity (60% training magnitude). Gradually increase the training duration (60 minutes each) and with intensity up to 80%. An on-site training on the Hong Kong Trail during weekends would be strongly recommended.

Lower limb muscle strength and endurance training guidelines for generally healthy adult (FITT):
  • Frequency (Training rate): 2 to 3 days per week for the each muscle
  • Intensity (Training magnitude): About 50-70% of the maximum training load
  • Time (Training duration): Repeat each movement for 15-30 times with 1-3 sets
  • Type using weight-bearing poses that challenges the trunk muscle stabilization

Muscles should be involved in trainings

Gluteus Maximus & Quadriceps
Hamstring
Hip Flexor
Calf
Trunk muscles