[KK Chan 毅行先生] 初戰毅行 (上)

KK 之所以被稱作「毅行先生」，想當然與「毅行者」息息相關，而對於「毅行者」(Trailwalker) 一詞，相信不少山友都耳熟能詳。這項由樂施會主辦，全長100公里的大型遠足籌款活動，在香港已具多年歷史，一向都是備受矚目的體育盛事，每年均吸引不少山野好手參賽，當中更不乏來自世界各地的越野選手，因此競爭可謂相當激烈。

八、九十年代，毅行者雖然在香港舉辦，但一直卻為外籍跑手爭霸稱雄之地，賽事中名列前茅的隊伍大多由啹喀兵或外藉跑手所組成，華人隊伍一直榜上無名。直至1998年，華人隊伍終於位居榜首，更連續三年取得全場總冠軍，打破洋人主導的局面，為華人爭光。論當中最大功勞者，自然非 KK 莫屬，而「毅行先生」之名亦從此而起。

成功向來並非一蹴而就，功成名就的一刻自然光輝燦爛，但可曾想過輝煌背後流過多少血與汗? KK 與毅行者的故事，要由二十四年前的某個下午開始說起。

時間回到1996年，春去秋來，轉眼間 KK 已在西貢消防局駐守三年，期間不斷進行各種救援任務，對於高山拯救亦已逐漸適應，不再如從前般吃力。話雖如此，但救援工作生死攸關，不僅要有強健的體能，更要熟悉山路，方能迅速到達意外現場。因此，KK 一直未敢停下腳步，在休假時獨自上山探索，鍛鍊體能，在這些年間已成了他的生活日常。

某日下班，KK 卸下消防隊服，換上輕裝，一如既往地到西貢的郊區遠足。行至西灣山頂，一群步履匆匆的行山人士從他身旁跑過，其中竟包括一名看起來年紀頗大的老伯。饒是 KK 平日訓練有素，當下卻也跟不上他們的步伐。對此疑惑不解的他，決定向走在隊尾的老伯一問究竟。談話間得悉該名老伯原來已年屆花甲，而他們正為一項名為「毅行者」的賽事進行訓練，訓練的終點則是遠在50公里外的慈雲山。雖然倉促之間未及問清詳情，但「毅行者」之名總算初次傳入 KK 耳中。

眼見年過半百的老者尚能跑在自己之前，正值壯年的 KK 既驚且愧，一時思緒萬千。

目送該行跑手的背影逐漸遠去後，他獨坐山頂，凝視著遠方浪茄灣的浪潮起伏，在人生的分岔路間百般思索。一邊是安然度日，待退休後領取長俸，自此安享晚年，庸庸碌碌地走過一生；另一邊則是走出自己的舒適圈，接受新挑戰，開展人生的另一頁。毫無疑問，不甘平凡的 KK 最後當然選擇了後者。然而，雖已決意作出改變，但實際上又該從何入手? 左思右想後，他終於立下首個挑戰目標——「毅行者」。

(未完待續)

撰文: Paul Chong

KK Chan 毅行先生 Facebook 專頁

#ChapterFour: His first Trailwalker (Part A)

The reason why KK is called Mr. Trailwalker is absolutely related to Trailwalker which is a word that many hikers are familiar with. It is a large popular 100km-hiking sports fundraising event which is organized by Oxfam with a long history. This event is very competitive as it attracts many world-renowned trail runners from different countries to join.

In the 1980s-1990s, Trailwalker was held in Hong Kong but usually the foreign runners became the top of the list in the battle. They were Gurkha Rifles (a rifle regiment of the British Army) or other foreign runners but no Chinese could top the list. Until 1998, there were Chinese winning the champion in consecutive three years and it broke the tradition in which only foreign runners dominated the top of the list. Undoubtedly, KK deserves the credit and this is why he is called Mr. Trailwalker.

We cannot reach our goal at one stroke. Of course people look splendid standing on the stage winning the prize, have you thought about the blood and sweat behind the scenes? We have to begin the story about KK and Trailwalker by going back to an afternoon twenty-four years ago.

Back to 1996, KK has stationed in Sai Kung Fire Station for three years and carried out different rescues. He was then more familiar with high mountain rescue and found it easier than before. However, having strong physical fitness and knowing the trails well are important because the job of rescue is a matter of life or death, firemen have to arrive at the accident spot as soon as possible. Therefore, KK kept improving himself by developing a daily routine of going up to the mountains alone after duty in order to train better fitness.
One day after work, KK took off his uniform and set off to Sai Kung for a hike as usual. When he got to the peak of Sai Wan, a group of speedy hikers passed by and one of them looked quite old. Although KK had frequent training, he could not follow their pace. KK was so confused and he decided to follow the team and talk to the old man at the back. During the chat, he knew that the old man was over sixty years old and they were training for the event “Oxfam Trailwalker”. Their destination that day was at Tsz Wan Shan which was fifty kilometers away. For not having enough time to ask about the details, KK at least learnt the word “Trailwalker” the first time.

Watching the old man running faster than himself, KK was startled and embarrassed and his mind was whirling with thoughts.

KK sat at the peak alone and looked at their back running further away. He gazed at the waves of Long Ke Wan and realized that he came to the fork in the road. After retirement, he could choose to live in peace with pension for the rest of his life or run out of his comfort zone to face challenges in a new chapter of life. No doubt, KK wanted a difference and chose the latter one. Although he made a decision to change, how to kick-start? After many thoughts, he set the first goal – Oxfam Trailwalker.

To be continued

By Paul Chong