SINGAPORE — Ultra-trail runner Ong Kai Wei created local sporting history last weekend when he became the first Singaporean to win the 156km Raleigh Challenge Wilson Trail (RCWT) in Hong Kong.

The 38-year-old DSO National Laboratories researcher paired up with Hong Konger Law Chor Kin in the elite team event held in Nam Chung in the New Territories, which required a minimum of two runners to form a team and all team members to cross the finish line together.

In all, 19 teams took part in the RCWT which had a cut-off time of 32 hours. Ong and Law eventually became the first team to cross the line in 27hrs 57min after one-and-a-half days of running.

What made Ong’s feat even more impressive is the fact that the 36-year-old Law is the RCWT’s reigning champion and course record holder. He had clocked the event’s fastest time of 24 hours 50 minutes last year with another partner.

Law, who is married, is also quite a celebrity in Hong Kong because of his ultramarathon feats. In July, he completed the 217km Badwater Ultramarathon 135 race in Death Valley, California — also known as the “Race Through Hell” — in 37hrs 50mins.

Nonetheless, Ong was surprised, and later apprehensive, when Law first approached him in August to team up for the RCWT.

“I am not as strong or as fast a runner as he is,” said the bachelor who first got to know Law at the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TC) last February when they ran 298km over three days during the Chinese New Year period.

“On my own, I am probably able to complete 156km in just under 30 hours. So I told him that I was very concerned that I may not be able to keep up with his speed. But he reassured me that we can push through this together. In the end, I took up the challenge as it is such a rare opportunity to team up with an experienced runner like Law.”

Law chose Ong after being impressed by his running during the HK4TC. He said: “I ran with him for some sections and was surprised by his speed and endurance in the mountains, given that Singapore has no mountains to train in.”

To make sure that Ong could keep up, Law paced him throughout the race. That, in turn, meant he could not have a crack at setting a new course record this year. It was a gesture that Ong appreciated.

“He was such a good motivator that the furthest that I lagged behind him was just about 80 to 100m,” said the Singaporean.

Besides keeping up with Law, Ong felt the rocky terrain which constituted much of the trail and the elevation were the toughest parts of the race.

“I observed and learnt from Law on how he tackled the terrains and took some pointers from him,” he said. “During our descents, it was especially difficult because one had to tread carefully and take care not to fall. We took quick, small steps akin to hopping to avoid falling over loose rocks we could potentially step on.”

When they finally crossed the finish line, Ong not only felt a sense of relief but also of achievement. “It was such a rewarding experience,” he said. “There is not one point that giving up ever crossed my mind … I think that has always been my mantra which saw me through all my runs.”

But he has yet to decide whether he would compete in the RCWT next year. “It’s still too far away to think about it,” he said.