Yan Long-Fei of China won the Vibram Hong Kong 100k ahead of an international field. In the following interview, Yan talks about his extensive running background, how his race went, and where we might see him racing in the future.
For more on what happened at this year’s race, read our article on the 2015 Hong Kong 100k.
[Thanks for George Liu of Vibram for assisting with translation!]
[Click here if you can’t see the video above.]
Yan Long-Fei, 2015 Vibram Hong Kong 100k Champion, Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar here with Yan Longfei after his win at the 2015 Vibram Hong Kong 100k. Congratulations.
Yan Long-Fei: Thank you.
iRunFar: We’ve learned that you come from the marathon and you have run 2:15. Is that correct?
Long-Fei: Yes, correct.
iRunFar: Do you have a long history in athletics and road running?
Long-Fei: I started in 2003 in a sports university. In 2006, I started my professional training in the marathon. Before 2009, I was a company coach for a women’s team for the marathon. Since 2009, I started to train by myself. That’s when I started to win some reputation for myself in the marathons.
iRunFar: What made you decide to start trail running?
Long-Fei: It was since 2013. I had a friend who recommended I try trail running together with my friend. That was the time when I quit from the professional team. So when I started to try, it was great. It was more interesting for me.
iRunFar: So you enjoy it?
Long-Fei: Yes.
iRunFar: And you enjoy being in nature and the mountains?
Long-Fei: I enjoy a lot the feeling of going from the bottom of the mountain and right to the top and then right back down.
iRunFar: Very nice. Where do you live? Are there mountains where you live?
Long-Fei: Near my home, I live in Hebei, which doesn’t have any mountains. Then I go to Lingshan where there are more. Also I attend professional trail running races so I’ll be able to run in the mountains.
iRunFar: This past weekend you had a very successful run here in Hong Kong. You ran with Sondre Amdahl from Norway for much of the race. You ran sort of behind him or just stayed with him. Was your plan to just stay with the leaders and then to run faster late?
Long-Fei: Basically, yes. Before the race I came to know there would be many international elite runners from Japan, Hong Kong, Europe. So I decided my strategy would be to follow the runners’ strategies. After Checkpoint 5, many of the other elite athletes were left behind. It was only me and Sondre from Norway. When we arrived to Checkpoint 7, I decided it was about time to make my run. Then I followed my own pace to make the lead.
iRunFar: Congratulations on that great run. Do you have plans to run more internationally?
Long-Fei: About the international races, I would discuss with my sponsor. Maybe there will be some Skyrunning events.
iRunFar: Is there a particular race around the world that inspires you most?
Long-Fei: For example this year, I attended two Skyrunning races. One was in June and one was in August. The race in June, I was the first Asian. It was 42k Skyrunning. In August, the Skyrunning race, I was injured so I couldn’t race. About the international races, my idea is that I will start with some Skyrunning which is a little bit shorter like the 42k distance. Then later when I feel more ready I will go onto attempt races like UTMB or UTMF.
iRunFar: Congratulations and good luck with your running.
Long-Fei: Thank you.
