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HKBU runners showcase stamina, care and technology at the Hong Kong Marathon

28 Feb 2025

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Dr the Hon Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, Chairman of the Council and the Court (6th right), and Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor (5th right), and other senior management members cheer on the HKBU runners at the Causeway Bay Sports Ground.
Dr the Hon Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, Chairman of the Council and the Court, and Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor, and other senior management members join HKBU runners at the Causeway Bay Sports Ground.
Chinese medicine practitioners from the School of Chinese Medicine help HKBU runners recover after they cross the finishing line.

On 9 February, over 600 runners comprising HKBU staff, students, alumni, and friends, took part in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon. The HKBU team didn’t just run for the finish line; they also contributed to a sports science project designed to monitor the runners’ physical conditions and help safeguard their health.  

HKBU runners showcased incredible stamina, pushing their limits and going for their personal bests.  Among the cheering crowd were Dr the Hon Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, Chairman of the Council and the Court, and Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor, and other senior management members of HKBU.

Preparation for this marathon began back in December last year, with a series of organised training sessions led by a professional running coach, to equip runners with the essential running techniques and fitness tips, so that they can have an optimum performance. 

On the day of the event, HKBU set up a booth at the Causeway Bay Sports Ground, where practitioners and students from the School of Chinese Medicine provided the runners with advice on recovery strategies after the race, as well as monitored their physical condition.

The Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health also leveraged this event to undertake a project titled “Real-time human data metrics improving performance and safety of athletes”. This pioneering project monitored the physiological indicators of participating runners in real time during the race. These indicators included core body temperature, heart rate, sweating rate and stride length. By integrating these data with meteorological information and the athletes’ locations, the HKBU team was able to assess the runners’ physical conditions and provide timely assistance when necessary. 

Professor Alex Wai, who also ran in the Marathon, experienced this real-time monitoring firsthand. This project not only opens new avenues for preventing and mitigating exertional heat illness, but also ensures that athletes can compete under optimal conditions to achieve the best results. Apart from this Marathon event, the Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health also applied related technologies to some athletes who participated in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The integration of technology in sports has become a powerful catalyst for the promotion of high-performance sports. This approach to fostering innovation in both the industry and society exemplifies HKBU’s mission to serve the community and spearhead social development.