Message from the Chair – Mar 2020

Dear AVOHK Members

We are all battling to keep our spirits up during these very difficult days. I hope you and your family, whatever location you are in, are the best you can be and managing to stay fit and staying safe. We are all praying that at some point the Coronavirus will let up and we can all lead a more normal active life. Here’s hoping.

It probably won’t come as much surprise that the 2020 Malcolm Phillips 5K memorial race scheduled to take place on Saturday, 9th May, has been postponed. We had not launched race entry, so not too much to unwind. This is an important event for the Club and an alternative date will be found in 2020 once we have a clear pathway.

For the time being, the AGM date of Thursday, 11th June 2020, to be held at Café 8 remains. Hopefully, the AGM can go ahead. This will be a good opportunity to get together, discuss the Club’s business and renew friendships.

Some very good news. Comprador have kindly offered to continue their sponsorship for the 2020 AVOHK 5K Series. AVOHK very much appreciate the generosity of Comprador and Comprador’s Managing Director and Club member Tony Steains. This really does allow AVOHK to keep race entry fees reasonable and put more financial resources into this very popular series. It is very early in the year but Race Director Freeman Lee and the AVOHK Committee have already been working on dates and can confirm the following schedule:

Race 1 – Wan Chai Gap – 8am Sat 15th Aug
Race 2 – Tai Tam Tuk – 8am Sat 29th Aug
Race 3 – Bowen Road – 8am Sat 12th Sept
Race 4 – South Bay – 8am Sat 19th Sept

The next time you are sat at home practicing your social distancing and having a drink, please do raise a glass for one of AVOHK’s most enduring committee members, our current Vice Chair Phil Booth who turned 70 recently. Phil has dedicated many years to ensure that the Club, formed in 1982, continues to be active and give back to Hong Kong’s running community. Phil was one of the Club’s driving forces behind AVOHK’s 25-year winning stretch in the Sedan Chair Race, amongst his other achievements as a Club member. Happy 70th Birthday, Phil.

In this month’s newsletter, AVOHK are promoting a wonderful cookbook put together by our Hong Kong refugees in the RUN Group. Forty-nine (49) recipes from 12 different countries. Excellent value at HKD350 and a great opportunity to give back to a wonderful organization. Click Here for further information: https://www.runhk.org/cookbook/.

In “Heard at the Track,” Railbird brings us some snippets of athletic information. One interesting fact that stands out, Jake Smith (22), ex-KGV and now based in Cardiff, has burst on the UK running scene with a 3rd place in the London half marathon in 62 minutes dead, breaking the UK under-23 half marathon record. A talent to watch out for. Railbird’s beloved World Masters Athletic Championships due to be held in his home country of Canada has been cancelled, another victim of the Coronavirus. Wonderful article by Bill Purves on how to qualify for the Olympics. Bill continues to try and sneak in the “W” word without success. Lots of articles offering plenty of advice this month on race cancelled now what?, dietary tips for boosting immune system, plan your own adventure, going uphill, feeling down and mental health, State of Running in 2019 Part II and Ritz on Running. Not certified by AIMS but in these crazy times, a Frenchman in quarantine completed a marathon on his balcony!!!

Just a reminder, April’s social run is cancelled.

On a final note, do stay fit, stay healthy and stay safe. Here’s hoping for a brighter future.

Yours in Running

Colin Whittington
Chairman