Race Media

News

24 Sep, 2016

One of most technical - pure in Taiwan - NISSAN Action Asia X-Trail

Most hard-core - NISSAN Action Asia X-Trail says Chen

TAIPEI, 25 September, 2016 – With perfect weather, Sunday witnessed the success of the much-anticipated NISSAN Action Asia X-trail race in it's 6th annual addition. The mountain trail race offered technical nature trails with stunning views in Maokong, Taipei, including the Houshan Mountain, Er Ger Shan and the Around Tan Mountain Road. Salomon Taiwan team runner Chiang Yen-Ching, finished the race in 1 hour 42 minutes 16 seconds winning overall Champion in the 17 km tecnical mountain race. Another local Taiwanese runner Chen Hsiu-Ching grabbed the Women's overall champion of the 17 km race, finishing in 2 hour 18 minutes 13 seconds.

Taiwanese Salomon team runner Chiang Yen-Ching the overall champion in the 17 km race with a blistering run said, “I am really excited that I won the race. For me, the most challenging part of the race is at the last 5 km, especially at the down-hill, because I did not take any food on the course and I was so burned out at the end that I could not run steadily.” Chiang Yen-Ching has had six-year experience in trail running and he also did a recce on the Nissan Maokong course a week before the race. “It was my first time competing in Action Asia Event’s race. I found the course was quite impressive and the view was breath-taking,” he said. He enjoyed the natural trails the most in Maokong race which are different from the trails in other races in Taiwan. He continued, “NISSAN Action Asia X-trail race is much more technical and professional run race comparing to other races in Taiwan, making Action Asia Events the most extreme adventure trail running organizer in Taiwan. The Action Asia Events NISSAN course makes other organizers races seem elementary in comparisson for this distance.”

Chou Ching, another Taiwan CCT team member was second in the 17km race, finishing in 1 hour 46 minutes 20 seconds and beat his own record from last year’s race. “My aim was to challenge my own result from last year. I was in a much better condition, not feeling as painful as last year. I chose to save up my energy and better warm up my body at the very beginning until passing the first downhill, where I started to speed up ahead.” Apart from sharing his feelings about the race, he also mentioned his devotion to promote trail running in Taiwan, “I am always very supportive towards trail running races in Taiwan. In order to better promote this sport, I tried my best to attend every international race. With moderate distance, Action Asia’s race fits runners with different levels. Holding such a race is very helpful and effective to promote the trailing running industry in Taiwan.”

Russian runner Sasha Tarasov, was third in the 17km race and completed the course in 1 hour 49 minutes and 8 seconds, breaking his own trail running record. “The course is quite different from where I came from including both the elevation and the trail. Even though this was not my first race, it was still really challenging for me. I pushed myself harder this time so finally got on the podium this year. Although I don’t particularly train before races. I did participate in varies sports and also explored different trails and areas. I don’t think runners have to train in any specific trails. We can train anywhere to enhance our endurance. Thanks Action Asia Events for organizing such an extraordinary race!” said Sasha Tarasov.

Taiwanese runner Chen Hsiu-Ching grabbed the champion of the Women’s 17km race in 2 hour 18 minutes 13 seconds. “I have been running for more than two years. Most of the time I participate in road race and just started joining trail running race from last year. The damp wet trails are more technical than those in Taichung area so I was more cautious on the down-hills. I really enjoyed the landscape of Maokong in spite of the technical difficulty of the trail. Compared with other races I participated before, this course chosen by Action Asia Events meets the international standard. The course contains less percentage of bituminous roads which makes it more professional. I prefer mother nature like breeze in the forests and mountains and I would love to race on this trail again next year if possible!” said the talented runner who placed first in the Women’s 17km race.

Salomon Taiwan teammate Kuo Wan-Ting, finished in 2 hours 32 minutes 43 seconds and took the first runner up in the Women’s 17km race. “The whole course was well-planned with very clear steps and specific race signs with great ribbon marking, one of the best I've ever scene. The scenery in Maokong is magical. Runners can take a break when feeling exhausted and enjoy the marvellous view,” she said. Due to her busy schedule, Kuo needs to make better use of the night time to train. “It is my first time running in Maokong and I will definitely join this race next year and try my best to break my own record,” said Kuo who is planning on visiting Hong Kong for the Skyrunning Asian Championship in December to help represent Taiwan.

Ho Jo-chun, a top Taiwan runner who has won many prizes in trail running races took the third place of Women’s 17 km race finishing in 2 hours 37 minutes 21 seconds. “Even though I just improved a little bit from my last year’s result, I still feel quite happy,” she said in the interview after the race. When asked about the course, she continued, “The course in Maokong has always been my favoured course because of the nice view. The rivulet part is steep and technical so I think choosing a pair of right shoes is crucial. The signs in Action Asia’s course are clear and professionally distributed which kept me from worrying about getting lost while running.” “I like Action Asia Event’s races a lot and that’s why I encouraged my sister to join too. She just won the Women’s 9 km race this morning.” Ho Jo-Chun showed her passion for this race again this year and said she would not hesitate to race again next year with her sister.

The Nissan Action Asia X-trail 9km race overall champion was grabbed by a local university student, Syu Jhao-Yu, who finished the course in 57 minutes 21 seconds. “I train for triathlons on a regular basis and started trail running almost a year ago. Last year I met the top Taiwanese runner Chou Pin-Chi during a 10km trail running race and he grabbed the champion at that time. I’m very grateful that he is now my trail running coach,” said Syu. When asked about the course, Syu continued, “The toughest part is definitely the beginning, where there are a lot of up hills climbing up the 650m Er Ger Shan and my body was not properly warmed up. The best view was certainly at the end of the course and partly because I was in a great mood while approaching the finish line.”

A 39-year-old Taiwanese runner, Ho Feng-Chuan placed first in the Women’s 9km race, finishing the race in 1 hour 19 minutes and 59 seconds. As a first time trail runner, she was thrilled. “I am really surprised that I could win the race because I have only run this route twice before, but the marking was very good. Thanks to my sister Ho Jo-chun, she told me many tips and tricks for trail running. I really enjoyed the great course and the view along the way.”

Race Director & Course Designer Michael Maddess said, "Oh it's awesome on the fantastic feedback we've got from all the trail runners praising this technical NISSAN X-Trail course as the toughest mountain course they've done and interesting to see so many road runners switching to the hills to enjoy the freedom, beauty and tranquility of the mountains compared to the boring cement roads. After starting our first adventure race in 2001 in Taiwan and now 15 yrs later it's incredible how many are now into health, fitness and want more adventure into their life".

Maokong, a tourist destination where used to be renowned for its cable car, is now the landmark of trail running in Taiwan because of previous high standards set by annual races including the NISSAN Action Asia X-trail TAIWAN, organized by Action Asia Events and supported by NISSAN.

To minimise environmental damage to the historical route, the organizers operated a strict No Cup policy. Runners brought their own water bottles or hydration packs, as cups were not provided. Action Asia Events provided carboys sponsored by MaxPure to promote an eco friendly environment as with the finish line.

The event could not happen without the generous support of the presenting sponsor NISSAN and other supporting partners OtterBox, ActionX Store, Compressport, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Maxpure, Eva Air, TXG, Chaiin Hotel, Don 1 don, Outside Magazine, Taipei Metro Hash House Harriers, China Hash House Harriers, and Action Asia Foundation.

[Race Result] 2016 NISSAN Action Asia X-Trail Taiwan

17 km

Top 5 MEN

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Chiang Yen-Ching（江晏慶） – Taiwan – Salomon Taiwan – 01:42:16

2. Chou Ching (周青) – Taiwan – Ctt – 01:46:20

3. Sasha Tarasov - Russia – 01:49:08

4. Wu Yu-Chia (吳有家) - Taiwan – 01:54:14

5. Teng Wei-Fu (鄧維富) - Taiwan – 01:59:43

Top 5 WOMEN

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor - Time

1. Chen Hsiu-Ching (陳秀卿) – Taiwan – 02:18:13

2. Kuo Wan-Ting (郭婉婷) – Taiwan – Salomon Taiwan – 02:32:43

3. Ho Jo-Chun (何若君) – Taiwan – 02:37:21

4. Lily Wong – Taiwan – 02:39:55

5. Yang Chiao-Chu (楊喬筑) – Taiwan – 02:41:25

9km

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor - Time

Syu Jhao-Yu (許昭宇) – Taiwan – 00:57:21 - Mens Open

Ho Feng-Chuan（何鳳娟）– Taiwan – 01:19:59 - Womens Open

Race Info

Event Name

	2016 - NISSAN Action Asia X-Trail Taiwan
Date	Sept 25, 2016 (Sunday)
Start Time	8:00 a.m.
Start Location	Zhi Nan Gong Main Hall Temple, No.115, Wanshou Rd., Wenshan Dist., Taipei City 116
Distance	9km, 17km
Category	Trail Running
Course	http://www.actionasiaevents.com/our-events/upcoming-events/2016-x-trail-taiwan/course.html#content

About Action Asia Foundation

Since its inception in 1997 the Action Asia Foundation has promoted the idea that outdoor activities can play a crucial part in fostering an individual’s personal development. Proceeds from the Action Asia Challenge and other fundraising events go to help the work of the Foundation. The goals of the Action Asia Foundation include:

Developing personal development opportunities for young people in Asia through organising outdoor adventure activities.
Raising the quality of life for disadvantaged young people in Asia by funding health clinics, schools and activity centres.
Promoting cultural interchange through adventure programmes and events.
Developing permanent facilities for youth adventure training

The Foundations achievements so far include funding a day-care and health facilities in Nepal, and organizing kayaking, climbing and other outdoor activities for handicapped and underprivileged youth in Hong Kong.

2016 NISSAN 動感亞洲越野賽圓滿落幕

專業賽道獲一致好評台灣本地選手包攬冠軍

9月25日，台北 – 伴著台北貓空涼爽的秋風和人們的歡呼聲，2016「NISSAN動感亞洲越野賽﹣台灣站」於清晨8時正式開賽。該比賽賽道包括猴山岳，二格山和貓空圓山等具挑戰性的貓空陡峭山路，賽道沿路風景迷人。最終台灣所羅門隊員江晏慶以1小時42分16秒的成績奪得十七公里組別總冠軍，而同是台灣本地跑手的陳秀卿以2小時18分13秒勇奪十七公里冠軍。

台灣本地跑手江晏慶以1小時42分16秒的成績奪得2016 NISSAN 動感亞洲越野賽-台灣站的17公里總冠軍，他說：「很高興能順利完成賽事並且突破自己。我覺得這次比賽最具挑戰性的賽段是最後5公里，除了水我沒帶其他補給品，能量流失快，體能下滑，因此下坡時不穩定。」比賽經驗充足的他，已經有6年越野賽跑齡了，對於賽前準備方面他表示：「賽前我進行了持續訓練，前一周還帶著GPS到貓空進行了預跑。這是我第一次參加動感亞洲的比賽，賽道風景非常漂亮，讓人十分難忘。區別于台灣其他賽事一般的登山步道，動感亞洲貓空站比賽有很多天然小徑非常漂亮。最重要的是，在台灣其他賽事大多均為初級水平，動感亞洲賽事級別較高且更專業，非常值得挑戰。」

而17 公里女子組冠軍亦由台灣越野跑手陳秀卿奪得,她的完賽成績為2小時18分13秒。第二次參加越野賽的她表示:「我平時有參加路跑,跑了兩三年,但越野跑是去年才開始接觸的,很開心在第一和第二次參加越野比賽都能獲得冠軍。今天的賽道頗有難度，下雨路面較潮濕，又比較陡，和台中的山徑是完全不同的形態，所以我的下坡路段放慢速度,保證自己不受傷。動感亞洲的這次比賽難度比較高且風景都很漂亮，之前我參加的不是國際賽，相比之下那些賽道的柏油路占比例比較大，不如這次比賽的越野賽道專業。我也比較喜歡天然原生態的感覺，所以有機會下年會再參加！」

在冠軍衝線4分鐘後，本地優秀越野新一代周青也抵達終點，以1小時46分20秒的成績獲得2016 NISSAN 動感亞洲越野賽-台灣站的17公里男子亞軍。作為學生的他，在去年贏得季軍暨全場最快亞裔跑手後，今年完成目標，突破自己並奪得亞軍，他興奮地表示：「今年就是以超越去年為目標，我很高興我做到了！相比去年在比賽最後要出盡百分百的體力到達，今年狀態明顯好了很多。一方面是因為今年賽道和天氣都比去年要適宜；另一方面，今年賽程前段的跑速比較慢，因為身體還沒熱開，直到中間第一個山頭過後才開始盡全力跑。」另外，他也表示很希望台灣的越野可以變得更好，他說：「其實在台灣我們很支持越野賽，因為台灣在發展，所以有任何的國際賽我們都會盡全力去參與推廣越野賽。動感亞洲比賽的賽道可跑性比其他比賽更強，具備一定的專業水準。其實越野賽在國外都是以超長距離為賽點，而在台灣尚處於推廣階段，17公里如今是一個很好的賽道距離，所以我覺得很棒，我們支持越野的人如果希望台灣可以繼續發展應該是要踴躍參與多些活動。」

台灣當地年輕一輩的精英跑手郭婉婷以2小時32分43秒的成績奪得17公里女子組別亞軍。提及參賽感受，她表示：「整個賽道十分舒適，難度也非常適合越野跑新手。動感亞洲這次的賽事規劃很棒，在賽道設計、指引方向以及補給方面都準備得十分充分。而且貓空風景很棒，要是跑累了還可以停下來欣賞美景。」因為平常工作比較忙，她經常需要擠出時間，利用晚上來進行跑梯練習。她說：「我之前跑過指南宮的樓梯，但跑進貓空山還是第一次，感覺非常不一樣。我下年還會再次參賽，爭取突破自己，取更好的成績！」

來自俄羅斯的跑手Sasha Tarasov奪得17公里的季軍，用時1小時49分鐘8秒。從2012年開始，Sasha已經參加過五次越野跑比賽了，在去年的比賽中排名第四，未能躋身前三，今年是他五年來獲得的最高名次。他說：「台灣的自然條件包括海拔還有跑徑都與我的家鄉有明顯的不同，這提高了我的挑戰難度。我一直都非常努力地挑戰自己的極限，終於在今年有所突破。我參加過許多的探險活和賽跑活動，每一次經歷都讓我有所提升。動感亞洲把這個越野跑活動辦得非常好。」

17公里女子組季軍得主是以2小時37分鐘21秒完成比賽的本地跑手何若君，在衝過終點後，她分享道：「今年我跑得很舒服，步調比較流暢，儘管只是比去年進步了一點，也已經很開心了。貓空的賽道是我一直很喜歡的賽道，風景漂亮，大部分賽段比較好跑，溪溝的部分會比較陡，石頭也比較滑，因此選鞋很重要。」參賽經驗豐富的何若君認為：「動感亞洲的賽道標示十分清楚，台灣近期的越野賽很多，很多長路程比賽的標示不夠密集，比賽過程中會擔心迷路，動感亞洲的標示設置很人性化，讓人可以很放心地跑步。」同時她還說：「動感亞洲是我很喜歡的比賽，所以今年把妹妹也帶來參加比賽了。」她也表示明年有機會還會參加並且和妹妹一起跑17公里賽程。

至於2016動感亞洲越野賽台灣站的九公里組別，冠軍是台灣本地的大三學生許昭宇，以57分21秒的完賽成績奪冠，超越了自己往年的成績。年僅21歲的他，平時主要是玩鐵人三項，一年前才開始玩越野跑。他說：「之前因結識了周平記，後來他成為了我的師傅帶我一起越野跑。今年他和我大師兄周青參加了17公里。今年我準備參加十多場比賽，這是第八場。相比起17公里賽道，今天9公里的賽道算是中階水平。前兩公里難度最高，熱身不足和上坡地形讓大家的體力都有些吃緊，但出了青龍宮后，接近終點的最後一段路就覺得很輕鬆了！」

來自台灣的39歲越野女跑手何鳳娟以1小時19分59秒的成績獲得了9公里女子冠軍，她表示第一次參加越野賽就能拿到這個名次感到十分幸運，她謙遜地表示：「我優勢在於姐姐是何若君，她是「2014台灣動感亞洲50」最快的台灣女跑手，一直和姐姐一同練習越野跑，姐姐介紹了一些重點和技巧。」儘管只是在賽前兩周內練習了三次越野跑，何鳳娟還是以優異的成績奪得了冠軍。提到此次比賽的參賽感受時，她說：「山裹的路段比較多，可跑性較高。」

為了環境保育，減少對具歷史價值的路徑造成破壞，主辦單位今年繼續實行了無膠杯政策，不向跑手提供水杯。動感亞洲鼓勵跑手自備水瓶或水袋，並在各檢查站補充飲用水，動感亞洲為參賽者提供了由頂好飲用水贊助的桶裝礦泉水。另外，所有跑手亦獲得了由Compressport贊助的運動T恤。

2016 NISSAN 動感亞洲越野賽 - 台灣站路線大致如下：(詳情請參考附件地圖)

指南宮廟à 貓空圓山à 二格山à 阿柔洋產業道路à猴山岳à指南宮廟

指南宮廟：俗稱「仙公廟」，建於清光緒十六年，為台灣的道教聖地之一，並設「純

陽寶殿」及「凌霄寶殿」、「大雄寶殿」和「大成寶殿」四個大殿等。

二格山：又名「石尖山」，位於台北市南緣，為木柵、深坑、石碇之界，視野遼闊，

綠意盈盈，是熱門的登山路線，每年二月春節前後更可欣賞森蔭兩旁綻放的櫻花。

阿柔洋產業道路：與一般柏油道路不同，阿柔洋連結深坑及木柵地區，平坦且貫穿山

間，車輛稀少，野花處處，且能遠眺台北的景色。

猴山岳：又名猿山，位於二格山系西稜，藏匿於大片森林之中，循山中小徑穿梭林

間，可感受大自然的奧妙。

本次賽事組織香港動感亞洲活動感謝獲得 NISSAN 冠名贊助；感謝聯合贊助(排名不分先後) OtterBox、ActionX Store、Compressport、謙商旅·總統府館、頂好飲用水、台灣旅遊發展局、長榮航空、TXG、動一動、戶外探索、台北捷運兔、健龍慢跑俱樂部和動感亞洲基金會。

比賽結果

NISSAN 動感亞洲越野賽﹣台灣站﹣2016年9月25日

17 公里男子組前5名

姓名 – 國籍 – 隊伍/贊助商 – 時間

1. 江晏慶 – 台灣 – Salomon Taiwan – 01:42:16

2. 周青 – 台灣 – Ctt – 01:46:20

3. Sasha Tarasov – 俄羅斯 – 01:49:08

4. 吳有家 – 台灣 – 01:54:14

5. 鄧維富 – 台灣 – 01:59:43

17 公里女子組前五名

姓名 – 國籍 – 隊伍/贊助商 – 時間

1. 陳秀卿 – 台灣 – 02:18:13

2. 郭婉婷 – 台灣 – Salomon Taiwan - 02:32:43

3. 何若君 – 台灣 – 02:37:21

4. Lily Wong – 台灣 – 02:39:55

5. 楊喬筑 – 台灣 – 02:41:25

9公里男女冠軍

姓名 – 國籍 – 隊伍/贊助商 – 時間

男子冠軍: 許昭宇 – 台灣 – 00:57:21

女子冠軍: 何鳳娟 – 台灣 – 1:19:59

賽事信息

賽事名稱	NISSAN 動感亞洲越野賽 ﹣台灣站
日期	9月25日 (星期日)
時間	早上8時
地點	台北市文山區萬壽路115號指南宮廟 (大雄寶殿)
距離	9公里和 17公里
賽道	http://www.actionasiaevents.com/our-events/upcoming-events/2016-x-trail-taiwan/course.html#content