[KK Chan 毅行先生] 毅行三連冠

1998、1999、2000，這三個數字，在他人眼中，可能並無太大意義。然而，對於KK而言，此三年在他的跑步生涯中卻別具意義。皆因此三年間，他的隊伍——Cosmoboys，打破外籍隊伍長年穩居榜首的局面，成為首支在毅行者比賽中奪冠的華人隊伍，為本地跑手爭一口氣，其後更再三折桂，既奪得「毅行三連冠」的亮麗紀錄，亦為毅行者歷史刻下一座里程碑。

問及此三年間的的經歷，從KK的口中聽不到任何曲折離奇的劇情，亦無波瀾壯闊的故事，其中只有腳踏實地、披星戴月的操練日常。要說有什麼與別不同的地方，也許是那份永不言敗的堅忍精神，以及為實現目標而專心致志的態度。

1998年，KK反思去年的比賽成績，為加快完賽時間，更勝去年成績，決意改變訓練方針，與隊友集中訓練上落山的速度。原為突破自身紀錄，誰知這項訓練卻為他們帶來意料之外的收穫。

該年比賽，KK與隊友們一路埋頭疾跑，一路跑至第五檢查站時，從一旁的工作人員口中得知他們為第一隊到達現場。起初KK仍抱有懷疑，認為前方早有隊伍跑過，只是工作人員偶有走眼。由於其時急於趕路，再加上大量的體力消耗，他們無暇細想，稍作歇息後，便匆匆上路。雖然其後沿途一路均有不少人告知他們暫時領先，但KK亦不敢多想，繼續恪守本心，保持原有步伐，走至終點。

原本只打算超越去年的成績，但KK與隊友們均沒想到，以往日夜不休的訓練，原來早已令他們走得比想像中更快更遠。該年，Cosmoboys 以15小時25分的成績完賽，首次登上毅行者的冠軍之位。

去到1999年，據KK憶述，該年的比賽競爭激烈非常，至今仍令他記憶猶新。Cosmoboys 於前一年的鋒芒畢露，令不少越野好手躍躍欲試，欲與之一較高下。

該年的比賽由起步開始，KK與隊友們便察覺，有數隊強敵一直跑在前方，而他們亦不敢怠慢，一直緊隨其後。由水浪窩至馬鞍山的途中，KK該隊與其他隊伍勢均力敵，幾隊之間一直相持不下。直至慈雲山一段，他們方始跑出重圍，可是激烈的賽況卻容不得他們有半點鬆懈。去到「針草帽」的路段，後方幾隊一度幾乎超前。夜間，於大帽山的公路賽段上，KK與隊友們甚至不敢停下打開頭燈，一路拔足狂奔。同一時間，由其他隊伍所發出的燈光卻在後方步步進逼。

如此情況之下，KK與隊友即使經已疲倦不堪，但仍咬緊牙關，加快腳步，最終硬是拉開了一小段距離。其後直至終點，他們才敢放下腳步，就在衝線不久之後，另一隊亦緊接而來，而他們與KK該隊的完賽時間，僅僅差上12分鐘。是年，Cosmoboys 再次打破往年的極限，以13小時54分的成績再次奪冠，再一次證明自己的實力，令世界各地的跑手對本地的華人隊伍刮目相看。

去到2000年的毅行者比賽，比賽情況已不如去年激烈。Cosmoboys 由備受挑戰，漸漸成為其他隊伍的參考對象。據KK所述，當年的比賽由起點一直到東壩的尾端，其他隊伍並非如以往般發力疾走，而一直緩緩跟隨於KK該隊之後，盡量於比賽的前段留力，卯足氣力留待尾段衝刺。

也許是上一年的比賽過於激烈，該年的比賽對於KK而言，就相對上顯得稍為平淡，但 Cosmoboys 最終亦以14小時的成績成為全場總冠軍，「毅行三連冠」的壯舉就此畫上完滿的句號。

問及KK此三年間最大的感觸，原來並非訓練的疲勞，亦非比賽的艱辛，而是每年完賽後，眼見一位又一位戰友達到目標後相繼離隊。來年的比賽KK又要再次四處尋覓新隊友，評估新隊員的能力、為其制定目標、協助其訓練、重新建立團隊默契。同時間自己亦要投入操練，預備比賽，每一年KK都要比其他人做多一步。自2000年以後，KK決定打開Cosmoboys的大門，招攬志同道合的跑手參與，就此開展他毅行之旅的新章節。

撰文: Paul Chong

KK Chan 毅行先生 Facebook 專頁

#ChapterSeven: Being the champion three years running in Trailwalker

1998, 1999 and 2000 are ordinary numbers to us because they do not come with any meaning. However, these three years are extraordinary in KK’s running life. In these three years, his team – Cosmoboys broke the record made by the foreigners who always got the champion in Trailwalker. Cosmoboys was the first Chinese team winning the first place and brought glory to the local runners. What was more, Cosmoboys made a spectacular record “Being the champion three years running” which was a milestone in the history of Trailwalker.

During the chat with KK, there was no mysterious episode or story happened in those three years. What you could hear most was their regular trainings from day to night. When comparing to other trail running training, Cosmoboys may have more perseverance and they aimed to reach their target with all their focus.

In 1998, KK evaluated the past experience and they planned to change the training strategy in order to better the record. Their training focused on the technique of uphill and downhill running. The new strategy was to break their own record but it turned out to a surprising reward.

In the race, KK and his team kept running and reached Checkpoint 5. They were told by the event staff that they were the first team getting to the checkpoint. KK doubted about it at first as he thought there were other teams ahead and the staff made a mistake. KK’s team did not have spare energy to think about it as they were all exhausted. So, they took a rest and left. Although there were people telling them that they were taking the lead, KK kept the pacing till the finish line with an unwavering faith.

Their plan was to break last year’s record, yet KK and his team made an unexpected improvement which was far better than they could imagine. In that year, their record was 15 hours 25 minutes and they got the first place.

Until 1999, according to KK, the race was so competitive that he could still remember it. Many runners joint the event because of KK’s performance and wanted to challenge him.
At the beginning of the race, there were already some stronger teams taking the lead and so KK’s team kept tagging along with them. From Shui Long Wo to Ma On Shan, they were running neck and neck. When they were on the route of Tsz Wan Shan, KK’s team could finally surpassed some of the teams but it did not mean that they could slacken a bit.

When they reached Needle Hill, Grassy Hill and Tai Mo Shan, a few teams surpassed them suddenly. At night, when they were at Tai Mo Shan, KK’s team had to dash and switch on their headlights at the same time. They could see the light from other teams chasing after them. In this tense situation, KK’s team gritted their teeth and ran faster to keep a distance from the team behind them. As far as they saw the finish line, they finally slowed down a little bit and the team behind them followed them to cross the finish line. KK’s team was only 12 minutes faster than the team behind them. Cosmoboys again broke the record of Oxfam Trailwalker and finished in 13 hours 54 minutes. They got the champion again and proved it to the runners around the world.

In 2000 Trailwalker, the race was less competitive than last year. Cosmoboys became a reference for other teams but not a competitor. According to KK, other teams did not run fast to race against Cosmoboys, but they managed to follow Cosmoboys closely from the starting point to East Dam in order to save energy for the last few stages.

Perhaps, the race in last year was very tense so 2000’s one was not very special. Cosmoboys finished in 14 hours and got the champion. This was a perfect ending for the story “Being the champion three years running”.

For KK, what touched him most in those three years were not the training or the races, it was the leaving of his teammates after every race. He had to look for new teammates for the next race, evaluate the ability of new teammates, set goal, help with the training and build team spirit. At the same time, KK had to focus on the training and walk one step ahead of his teammates. Since 2000, KK decided to establish a trailrunning team “Cosmoboys” and gather people who have got the same interest to start a new journey.