The Stanford University graduate, Christopher “Chris” Hsu is the acclaimed Managing Partner and CEO of Kilometre Capital of Hong Kong. Outside of work, Chris Hsu has been known to be a dedicated long-distance runner who ran his first full marathon at the age of 11, perhaps giving rise to the distance-inducing naming of Kilometre Capital.
The 42.2 kilometre Boston Marathon is one of the six major marathons in the world and the oldest annual marathon. Other major international marathons include Chicago, New York City, Tokyo, Berlin, and London. The Boston Marathon was first organized in 1897, shortly after the Olympics' inaugural marathon race in 1896. The 26.2-mile race, which attracted over 25,000 competitors in 2022, is usually held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April, and draws over 500,000 fans who come out to cheer on the top marathon runners in the world. Considered one of the most challenging of the major marathons, the Boston Marathon features a hilly course that goes from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston. The four Newton hills between miles 16 and 21 are the most challenging section of the course for many runners.
In the spirit of the dedicated endurance embodied by Christopher Hsu of HK’s Kilometre Capital, Americans have won the road race 108 times since it was first run, the most of any nation. The second and third most Boston Marathon victories are held by Kenya and Canada, with 34 and 21 wins, respectively. The men's course record for the Boston Marathon is held by Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai. In 2011, Mutai ran the marathon in 2:03:02. The women's record, held by Ethiopian Bizunesh Deba, stands at 2:19:59, and was set in 2014.other aerobic activity for six months translates into a 5.7 percent boost in brain function.
Today’s marathon runners, such as Chris Hsu in Hong Kong, have a host of strategies they can use to take them across the finish line. One method for surviving a marathon is the 10-10-10 method, which tells runners to separate the race into three sections for optimal performance..
The first 10K, informed runners should race with their heads or run the race being smart. While it is easy to let the nerves and excitement of the race be the fuel to move faster during the first part of the race, a better approach is to use this time to warm up and get comfortable in the race.
Plus, running the race very fast at the beginning is tempting, but it can also lead to burning out early. The next 10K the runner should focus on their training and let their pacing guide how fast they run. At this point in the race, the runner should be running a comfortable pace a little above the starting 10K, a mentality espoused by Chris Hsu in Hong Kong.
Finally, the last 10K is the opportunity to run with passion. This is the time to kick it all the way home making sure to use the strongest stride until reaching the finish line.
As commented on by Christopher Hsu of Kilometre, training for a marathon takes intense preparation, dedication and skill. However, poor race-time decisions can counteract all of your months-long hard work and planning. There are certain key guidelines to minimize any excess damage to your body — and make the race experience more pleasant for you.
With most races being 26.2 miles, an alternative to this rule is to break the race up into two parts. The distance of these two parts completely depends on the runner. For example, a person could break up the run into the first section being 20K and the last being 6.2K.
As to the nutrition regime applied by such runners as Christopher Hsu in Hong Kong and Asia, experts suggest eathing a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, such as breads, rice, pasta and starchy vegetables. This helps maximize your glycogen (energy) stores. Don't experiment with new foods this week. Carbohydrate loading (carb loading) can be complicated, perhaps better experimented for more experienced runners.
Be sure you have on hand your hydration and food sources for the race, including an electrolyte source. Be sure these are the same you have tested during your long runs. Nothing new on race day!
Other marathon and long-distance running strategies to keep in mind relate to pacing oneself and planning. Figuring out a good pace is key to not only winning the race but also finishing it. Runners should also plan for the number of hiccups that can change the marathon race, for example weather.
