Joining the symphony of footsteps, a wave of familiar faces brought celebrity excitement to the densely packed streets for the Hong Kong Marathon 2026 this morning.
Among the star-studded line-up in the 10km race, renowned actor Chow Yun-fat drew cheers as he crossed the finishing line.
The 70-year-old actor, who ran a half-marathon last year, returned to a shorter distance this time, completing the course in 2 hours and 23 seconds.
Running alongside veteran actress Nina Paw Hee-ching as well as actor Kent Cheng Jak-si and Lau Kong, Chow expressed his satisfaction with the course, noting that the breeze and sunshine made for a very comfortable run.
He stressed that finishing and greeting the crowd were the main goals, joking that their squad, with a combined age of several hundred years, had "outdone themselves".
"Lau Kong is our spiritual leader—he reminds everyone to run every day," saying that running alongside him was the best gift for his 80th birthday.
Regarding the challenges in the course, Chow humorously commented that he would walk rather than run on slopes, stating, "It is not about rushing, but enjoying the process."
As for plans for next year's marathon, he said they depend on the arrangements by the organizers but expressed hope for more participants in the future.
Also joining the 10km event was Hong Kong professional boxer Rex Tso, known as "Hong Kong's Wonder Boy," who finished in around 39 minutes.
Tso shared that running is a key part of his boxing training, helping to improve his breathing and explosive power.
He playfully recounted meeting runners from a previous group during the turnaround point, likening it to practicing boxing footwork.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok and his wife also completed the 10km race, with Lam posting a time of 1 hour and 10 minutes on social media.
In his post, he praised the camaraderie among the thousands of runners, echoing the marathon's slogan, "Together, we run further," which he said should also be the spirit of the city.
Meanwhile, the Leaders Cup, a 2km run from Wan Chai Sports Ground to Victoria Park that kicked off at 7.15am also drew a field of over 50 political and business leaders.
Notable participants include Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung, Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong president Wingco Lo Kam-wing, Chair of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited Patrick Healy and Standard Chartered International president Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng.
In his opening address, Chan compared life to a marathon—full of ups and downs, but conquerable with perseverance, effort, and passion.
He highlighted the Hong Kong Marathon as an internationally recognized event that promotes community cohesion and stimulates economic growth while reflecting the increasing popularity of local sports culture.
He also encouraged the leaders who participated in this year's "Leaders Cup" to challenge the 10-kilometer race next year, urging them to "embrace the marathon spirit."
Following the race, the financial chief took to social media to encourage participants to treat themselves, noting that around 700 local restaurants were supporting the event.
