19th November 2023 – (Hong Kong) Chow Yun-fat, a 68-year-old veteran actor has always had a passion for hiking and running. In recent years, he has participated in various long-distance races. In December of last year, he competed in the Hong Kong Cross Country Championship. Then, in February of this year, Chow completed the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 10-kilometre race with a time of 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 57 seconds. He jokingly said at the time, “I hike a lot, so I decided to take the next step and start running.” When asked if he would consider running a half or even a full marathon, he replied, “Maybe a few years later when I’m older, right now I’m still young.”
Today, on the 19th, Chow once again participated in a marathon. He took part in the Inaugural Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HK Section) Half Marathon, marking his first-ever half marathon race. He successfully completed the approximately 21-kilometre course, crossing the finish line with a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes, and 56 seconds.
In the early hours of the morning, even before sunrise, Chow was already awake and preparing for the race. Dressed in his signature all-black sportswear, consisting of a black vest and black pants, he appeared at the starting point along with at least 2,000 other participants. The race commenced with a starting gun at 7.40am.
After completing the race, Chow was interviewed and asked if running a half marathon was tiring. He replied with a smile, “Running itself isn’t tiring, but saying hello to everyone along the way is more exhausting.” He expressed gratitude to everyone who cheered him on throughout the race. Chow mentioned that he doesn’t have the stamina to endure a 4 or 5-hour race, as running for 2 and a half hours is already his limit. He revealed that he currently runs about 4 to 5 kilometres every day, completing it within an hour, as a way to stay fit and healthy. He jokingly added that he has now switched careers, from being an actor to being an athlete. In high spirits, Chow even took selfies with the media present, smiling throughout and showcasing his warm and friendly nature.