Race Media

Skyrunners challenged to extremes on MSIG Taiwan Action Asia course

Rope climbs, rocky ridges and river gullies – all in a day’s work for participants of the 50km race

TAOYUAN CITY, TAIWAN, November 11, 2017 – Well before the first rays of sunlight greeted Shihmen Shan this morning, hundreds of passionate trail runners were already making their way up the 551-metre tall mountain. Beams from headlamps sliced through the morning rain and cold, leading runners down a rocky river gully and over steep technical rocky ridges. The 5am start in darkness was just one of many challenges participants of the 50 kilometre race had to conquer through the day.

After a fierce battle on the hilly course, which included a total of 3,016m of thigh-burning elevation gain, the first man across the finish line at Shihmen Reservoir was Petr Novotny of the Czech Republic in 6 hours 8 minutes and 57 seconds. Taiwan’s Stella Chan was the first woman in 8:36:15.

Novotny said: “I always love racing this MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50 Shihmen course as I know it well, but Shicuokeng Shan, the rocky ridgeline with ropes, really pushed me mentally and physically, requiring upper body and lower body strength. With constant short steep rocks, it was draining on the body.”

Taiwanese Chou Ching had taken the early lead, before a navigation error between Miao Pu and Xizhou Shan handed Novotny the reigns. Novotny held on to convincingly claim the overall champion title ahead of Romanian Andrei Maier (6:26:06), American Cory Lewandowski (6:30:51) and Taiwanese Chou Pin-Chi (6:48:22).

The rain made the challenging course extra slippery, but it didn’t stop women’s champ Chan from battering her previous best on the course by two hours.

“I am really glad and pleased to be the female champion. The cool weather allowed me to perform better, and with the breathtaking scenery, the race was perfect,” said Chan. “I especially enjoyed the first half when we ran through the mist, it was a very special experience. I will definitely participate in next year’s race!”

Less than four minutes behind Chan was fellow Taiwanese Chou Ling-Chun (8:40:36), a first-time participant of the race. “Although I had made a mistake, I never thought of giving up but reminded myself to have fun and enjoy the pristine scenery of the course. It turned out to be a satisfying result.”

Rounding out the women’s podium about 10 minutes further adrift was another local Ho Jo-Chun (8:50:47). She crossed the line with a massive smile and a sigh of relief.

“This was my best result among the three times taking part in this race,” Ho said. “I am also very happy to see an increase in runners participating in trail running races, I wish the sport can be promoted to more people so that they can experience the enjoyment of trail running.”

The MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50 course started at Shihmen Reservoir and climbed over single track trails on Shihmen Mountain before returning to the Shihmen Reservoir dam, followed by a 4km road run along the beautiful Shihmen Reservoir, and then more single track technical trails with ropes over Miao Pu - Xizhou Shan - Baishi Shan - Shicuokeng Shan - Shiguikeng Shan - Xizhou Shan, finally finishing at Shihmen Reservoir.

Along with the 50km race, there were also a few hundred participants who challenged themselves on 21km and 13km courses.

Taiwan’s Chou Ching, who had been one of the pre-race favourites, rued his wrong turn but stayed positive. “I gained a lot of experience today as it was an extremely technical course that prepared me well for the Asian Skyrunning Championships [on Dec 3] in Hong Kong,” said Chou Ching.

The event was possible thanks to the generous support of our presenting sponsor MSIG Mingtai Insurance and supporting partners Maxpure, Action X Store, HOKA One One, Skyrunner National Series China, Outdoor Channel, TXG, Royale International, BN’ B RACK, Outside Magazine, Don 1 don, GoodMore Hotel Shida, ITRA, UTMB Qualifying Race, Taipei Metro Hash House Harriers, China Hash House Harriers, Action Asia Foundation.

Race Results

2016 MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50

50km Top 5 Men

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Petr Novotny – Czech Republic – Taiwan Beast Runners – 6:08:57

2. Andrei Maier – Romania – Taiwan Beast Runners – 6:26:06

3. Cory Lewandowski – United States – Taiwan Beast Runners – 6:30:51

4. Chou Pin Chi 周平記 – Taiwan – Chinese Taipei Association of Ultrarunners – 6:48:22

5. Chien Chih Kuang 簡志光 – Taiwan – 靠北越野 – 7:22:12

 

50km Top 5 Women

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Stella Chen – Taiwan – Birthday Hash – 8:36:15

2. Chou Ling Chun – Taiwan – 8:40:36

3. Ho Jo Chun – Taiwan – Taiwan Beast Runners – 8:50:47

4. Wang Tzu Yun – Taiwan – Taiwan Beast Runners – 8:59:13

5. Chen Hsiu Ching – Taiwan – Merrell 野人幫 – 9:12:20

 

21km Top 3 Men

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Chen Chia Cheng – Taiwan – 2:02:39

2. Johannes Stimpfle – Germany – inov8 | brixental connection – 2:09:01

3. Teng Wei Fu – Taiwan – Merrell 野人幫 – 2:16:29

 

21km Top 3 Women

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Chang Wan Fang – Taiwan – Birthday Hash – 2:52:59

2. Chou Yi Chun – Taiwan – Birthday Hash – 3:06:01

3. Liu Kuei Chen – Taiwan – TE7R 台中慢跑團 – 3:19:07

 

13km Top 3 Men

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Romain Riche – France – HKTR – 1:25:54

2. Syu Jhao Yu – Taiwan – 1:30:11

3. Will Barnard – Britain – 1:30:41

 

13km Top 3 Women

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor - Time

1. Huang Yu Hsuan – Taiwan – 2:01:24

2. Susan Murphy – Ireland – 2:11:00

3. Huang Chien-yu – Taiwan – 2:13:35

 

For full race results:

https://www.racematix.com/site/#results:rac/Taiwan-Action-Asia-50km-2017

 

Race Info

Event Name	MSIG Taiwan Action Asia 50
Date	Nov 11, 2017 (Saturday)
Start Time	50km - 5am (Sunrise is 6:08am) 21km/13km - 6:15am
Start Location	Shihmen Reservoir, Taoyuan County
Distance	13km, 21km, 50km
Category	Trail Running

 

For more race details, please click below:

www.actionasiaevents.com

www.facebook.com/ActionAsiaEvent/

www.instagram.com/actionasiaevents/

www.twitter.com/ActionAsiaEvent

www.youtube.com/user/ActionAsiaEvents

 

About Skyrunning

Since the first extreme races in 1992, the first World Championship in 1998 and the introduction of the Skyrunner World Series in 2003, Skyrunning has grown to become a globally renowned sport governed by the International Skyrunning Federation. The sport is practised in more than 40 nations and counts followers from 126 countries. The Skyrunner National Series were introduced in 2014 and today are held in 18 countries including Taiwan. The concept is based on the same principle as the World Series with a circuit of three disciplines, Sky, Ultra and Vertical, awarding titles and prizes at the finals.

 

About MSIG Mingtai Insurance

Established in 1961, MSIG Mingtai service bases throughout Taiwan, a total of 16 branches, 30 communications. In September of 2005, MSIG Mingtai became a member of the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group(MSIG), which improved the overall financial strength. In Taiwan Rating, Mingtai insurance is ranked as twAAA as for Taiwan rating, and is an A-level property insurance company in the standard & poor's credit Rating (S&P Rating). Through integrating the enterprise strategies and resources of MSIG, Mingtai continues to take the effort to become the most thoughtful international property insurance company in Taiwan. For more information, please refer to the company website at http://www.msig-mingtai.com.tw/

 

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 Action Asia events help the work of the Foundation. The goals of the 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; and developing permanent facilities for youth adventure training. The foundation’s achievements so far include funding a day-care and health facilities in Nepal, and organising kayaking, climbing and other outdoor activities for handicapped and underprivileged youth in Hong Kong.