PC Lai Hok-yan turns No.1 local marathoner

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When you see Police Constable Lai Hok-yan at work in Mass Transit Railway (MTR) stations, you may not be aware that he is the current No.1 marathon runner in Hong Kong.

Taking part in the 42-km Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2004 last month, Mr Lai was the first among local athletes to cross the finish line in 2:35'42". The result was 11 minutes faster than his record in the same race last year, putting him in the 20th place in the open category among all elite international runners. This was an achievement he had never thought of two years ago.

Attached to the Island Line Railway District, Mr Lai pointed out that being able to run fast is a big help to his job. He said: "When I answer an emergency call in MTR station, I can rush to the scene faster and will never lose my breath."

On road to marathon contests

Mr Lai has started his amateur marathon-training by chance. He said: "Many of my colleagues in the Railway District very much care about healthy living, and superiors also encourage us to pursue a healthy lifestyle with regular exercises. So from time to time, we jog together before or after work because you will not feel bored if you run as a team.

"Gradually, I began taking part in the Force's sports competitions, and later a colleague of mine asked if I was interested in joining the Police Marathon Company set up by Police Athletics Club coach Sergeant Fung Wah-tim, who was once a marathon runner. That was how I started marathon-training."

Since November 2002, Mr Lai has been receiving formal and systematic training in running marathon at his own time. Thanks to his coach, he has improved his endurance and physique.

Before joining the Marathon Company, the longest distance he had run was only 12 km in the Dowman Road Race. To test his attributes, he made his debut in the Mizuno Half-marathon in January 2003, and won the third place with 1:16'37".

Then in the following month, he was the fourth Hong Kong athlete to cross the finish line in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2003.

Since then, Mr Lai is a familiar face on the tracks. Last December, he was chosen by the Hong Kong Amateur Athletics Association to represent Hong Kong in the Macao International Marathon. Again, he was the first Hong Kong and Macao athlete to come home, scoring the 15th position overall.

Determination & endurance

Mr Lai said that as a long distance runner needs great determination and endurance, a typical marathon-training programme lasts for three hours a day, six days a week.

He said: "You have to train hard, no matter in heavy rains, in strong wind or under a hot sun, otherwise you can never make a good runner. Unless typhoon signal no.8 is up, I stick to my running schedule.

"The most important thing is to set a goal and work hard towards that goal. What I want most now is to break my own record."

Family support

Although Mr Lai is spending most of his spare time in marathon-training, his family is supportive of his endeavours. "Each time I came back from competition, my son and my daughter were excited and asked for the result."

Prior to joining the Force in 1998, Mr Lai was no different from ordinary office workers, sitting in an air-conditioned office all day, facing a computer and doing paperwork. His physique has become stronger than ever since taking up marathon-running.

He encourages Force members to practise running. He said: "It's so simple. Just take out a pair of sports shoes and run. It is so convenient!"

PC Lai Hok-yan working at Island Line Railway District