In 1997, Standard Chartered Bank sponsored Hong Kong's first Standard Chartered Marathon. The Marathon began at Sheung Shiu on Hong Kong Island and continued across the Chinese border at Huanggang to Shenzhen. The Marathon attracted 1,000 competitors including a large international field of runners. This inaugural route was chosen to symbolise the return of Hong Kong to mainland China rule on July 1, 1997.

In 1998, 6,000 competitors set off at the recently completed Tsing Ma Bridge (the longest suspension bridge in the world) and ended at Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong's new international airport. In 1999, 7,000 competitors participated in the Marathon which began in Central on Hong Kong Island and ended at the Shamshuipo Sports Grounds in Kowloon. Competitors crossed the harbour through the recently completed Western Harbour and Cheung Tsing Tunnels.

In 2000, the Marathon was broken into three different races—a full marathon, a half marathon and a 10 kilometre race. The restructuring of the race increased the number of participants dramatically; and by 2001, the total number of participants exceeded 10,000. In 2001, the Marathon began on Nathan Road in Kowloon and finished at Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Convention Centre where the hand over ceremony had taken place in 1997. Participants followed a route which took them through the Cheung Tsing and the Western Harbour tunnels and across the Tsing Ma and Ting Kau bridges.

By 2002, the Marathon had become an international success. During the running of the Marathon, Hong Kong was also host to over 24 Asian countries at the 8th Asian Marathon Championships. Total participation exceeded 13,000. In 2003, the year of Standard Chartered Bank's 150th anniversary, total prize money reached US$100,000. More than 18,500 runners participated in the event. Since its beginnings, the Standard Chartered Marathon has been constantly striving to be both inclusive and international. This is not an event for professional competitors only, nor is it an event designed exclusively for Hong Kong residents and a Hong Kong audience.

Nothing underlines the inclusive nature of the Marathon better than the story of Wong Kin Kan and Alain Boulanger. It's also the story of a friendship— a friendship based on responsiveness, trust and courage.

I met with Alain Boulanger and Wong Kin Kan in Standard Chartered Bank's offices on Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong. Boulanger is an athlete. He began running seriously during an earlier career in the Australian army. Wong has been totally blind since birth.

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News of Wong's accident spread
throughout the Bank.
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Two years ago, Boulanger's daughter began urging him to enter the Standard Chartered Marathon. Boulanger hesitated. He didn't feel that he had enough time to train properly for the race. In response, his daughter designed a training schedule for him. He had little recourse but to follow it and soon found himself hooked. In 2001 and 2002, he competed in the half marathon and came first among all Hong Kong employees in the competition. In 2003, Boulanger competed in his first full marathon. Again, he came first among Bank employees from Hong Kong.

A mutual friend had introduced Wong to Boulanger. Boulanger had seen Wong around the Bank and had wondered if he might like to try and do some training. Boulanger said that he simply wished to help someone else discover the joy he feels from running.

Initially, Boulanger offered to teach Wong to swim. Wong agreed, but says he was only really interested in swimming because he thought it might help him lose weight. The two would go to a nearby pool during their lunch hours. In six weeks, Boulanger had taught Wong how to breast stroke.

Boulanger said that they switched to running because the pool they were using closed for the winter. At that point, Boulanger told Wong that he was going to train with him so that he could compete in the 10 kilometre section of the Bank's Marathon. Wong wasn't quite as confident of success as Boulanger. He thought Boulanger was joking. Surely he meant 1 kilometre, not 10 kilometres? Nevertheless, Wong said he'd do his best. They began training on a treadmill in a local gym, the Millennium Gym. Wong hoped that his ‘attempt' at running would remain a secret. Unfortunately, other Bank staff used the same gym; and before long, word spread throughout the Bank that Wong was training for the Marathon. The pressure mounted.

Wong trained three times a week on the treadmill. After a number of weeks of conditioning, it was time to begin training outside. Boulanger explained the strategy, “There is a running track at the park near where I live. The circle is 800 metres. My initial thought was that we would run around the track twice…I guess I was pushing it a bit. After we'd finished the first circle, Kin Kan started turning quite pale. And then he threw up…I thought he was going to die on me.”

Wong almost gave up. But with encouragement from Boulanger, they returned to the track the following week. On that second visit, they were able to go around the track three times before Wong had had enough. Wong was winded, but not ill.

Over the next two months, Wong and Boulanger were able to work up to completing six full tours around the 800 metre track without stopping. Boulanger explained that six full tours of the track was approximately 5 kilometres—half the distance Wong would have to cover in the Marathon. Boulanger's strategy was to push Wong to achieve a pace which would enable him to finish the 10 kilometre run in approximately 90 minutes. And they were well on their way to achieving that goal when Wong twisted his ankle.

The 2001 Marathon was only a month away. Wong had been training three times a week on the treadmill at the gym with one session a week on the track with Boulanger. Wong couldn't explain exactly how he hurt his ankle. Perhaps he was trying too hard or perhaps the anxiety of the upcoming Marathon overwhelmed him. Whatever the cause, his injury put his participation in the race in doubt.

News of Wong's accident spread throughout the Bank. By this time the whole Bank seemed to know that Wong was training for the upcoming Marathon. Fortunately, after only a week's rest, Wong's doctor encouraged him to resume training. Nevertheless, Wong's confidence had been badly shaken. He began to express doubt over whether he would be able to enter the race.

Wong telephoned Boulanger at 5 a.m. on the day of the Marathon. Wong hadn't slept. He was anxious and tired and his ankle was very sore. He told Boulanger he was sorry, but he just couldn't go through with it. Of course, everyone was disappointed. Boulanger, however, was undeterred. “I thought, all right, he won't be able to run it this year. But there will be another Marathon next year, so let's start training for that.” The two friends resumed training. In 2002, Wong felt strong enough, fit enough and determined enough to enter the 10 kilometre race. Since Boulanger was competing in the full marathon, Ruth Naderer, a colleague from the Bank, accompanied Wong in the race. She offered to take on Boulanger's customary role as Wong's guide.

“I honestly didn't think I could do it. I was very nervous at the beginning of the race. When I reached the half way point, I thought I would have to stop. But Ruth encouraged me.” Boulanger interrupted to add that by this point everybody was cheering Wong on. Word had spread. Many of the spectators along the route clapped and cheered for Wong.

Wong and Naderer completed the 10 kilometre race in 1 hour 38 minutes. The hardest part of the race? “When I crossed the finish line. The minute I stopped running I felt all the pain…I kept going because I didn't want to let people down. And I kept going because Ruth kept encouraging me. I couldn't have done it without all that support.”

I asked Wong to describe the emotion he felt when he completed the race. “I felt wonderful.” Naderer cried. Boulanger was about half way through the Marathon. When he found out that Wong had finished, he too cried. So did many others.

Boulanger and Wong will be running again in the 2004 Marathon. I asked Wong if he will try the full marathon this time? “I'll think about it…”Boulanger smiled at his friend's remark. It seemed less a question of if, but when…