“I believe the biggest challenge isn’t the training itself, but rather the mindset and attitude of the runner. As long as you can change your mindset, your body will naturally follow.”
1. Can you introduce yourself? What was the reason for starting the Crazy Running Club?
I’m a running coach with a lifelong passion for sports. Growing up, I loved swimming and playing basketball, but I really got into running during secondary school. I trained weekly for long-distance races, running from Kennedy Town to Wah Fu Estate with guidance from a teacher.
Later, I moved to Canada for university, where I focused on basketball practice and participated in competitions until I graduated. Upon returning to Hong Kong, I got back into running again.
At my first job, I started working at a financial company. By coincidence, a colleague asked me, 'Why don’t you start a running club at the company?' This conversation sparked the idea that led to the establishment of the Running Club and marked the beginning of my journey as a running coach in 2015.
At that time, we held the company running sessions every Tuesday, followed by strength training classes on Thursdays. By late 2018, one of my students raised a point, "Since you have experience in trail running, why not start a club focused on that?" This inspired me to launch the Crazy Running Club on my own.
On a side note, my mentor, KK (Chan Kwok Keung), and I began training together in 2008. Honestly, trail running is incredibly demanding, and few runners stay active for over a decade. I've been involved in trail running for 15 years now, which feels crazy! So crazy that If I skip a day of running, I often feel a sense of emptiness, as if I've left something unfinished.
If I skip a day of running, I often feel a sense of emptiness, as if I’ve left something unfinished.’ KFC makes the most of his lunchtime by running near the company and trains in the evenings with the students of Crazy Running Club. (Photo credit: Facebook and Instagram of Crazy Running Club, and Crazy Running)
2. Last year, you participated in the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC) and successfully completed it. What was the most memorable experience during that event?
I have always intended to participate in the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC), but the training demands are serious and high demanding. It wasn't until two years ago, during the pandemic and with the birth of my youngest daughter, that I decided to take on this challenge before she grew up. So, I signed up for the competition last year.
I trained during my available time each day, during lunch breaks, after work, and spent weekends in the mountains for long-distance training. Despite these efforts, my training time and accumulated distance were relatively less compared to other participants, who often dedicated their entire Christmas holidays to training or practicing one trail after another over the weekends.
The three-day race set an immense challenge for all participants. The HK4TUC is regarded as one of the toughest ultra challenges in Asia, requiring runners to cover 298 km with a total elevation gain of 15,000 meters. The timeline is also Crazy! To earn the title of "Finisher," participants must complete the course within 60 hours while finishing it within 72 hours grants the title of "Survivor."
People often ask, and yes after the second night, I began to experience hallucinations, particularly intense at night. I recall passing the catchwater, where the stones beside me seemed to transform into birds, rabbits, and pigs, while the trees appeared as people waving at me.
As I continued onto the Lantau Trail near Shek Pik Reservoir, I was puzzled by the staff members standing in the middle of the night, only to realize they were actually trees as I got closer.
Later, when I passed a temple, I saw all the Buddha statues flying around inside. After that, I had to navigate through dense bushes at midnight to reach Tsin Yue Wan before getting to Yi O and Tai O. The path was completely deserted, yet I heard countless voices of people conversing along the way.
Photo credit: KFC's instagram
3. What do you think is the most important lesson you've learned from running?
Since I started running at the age of fourteen, it has been a major influence in my life. Running has taught me the values of perseverance and endurance, while also keeping me physically fit.
In recent years, I transitioned into a running coach and even started my own running club. With the support of my students and the motivation from Crazy Running Club, I find it hard to stop. The journey has shown me that with dedication and community, we can achieve incredible things together.
KFC describes how throughout his running career, he has relied heavily on his wife’s strong support, as she takes care of their two daughters and manages various family matters, allowing him to dedicate time to training and coaching. Photo Credit: Lucien Chan facebook page
4. You will launch a running tank soon, why #INVISIBLEBAG2.0?
The logo on the front of the Crazy Running tank features a triangle, with four lines inside representing the four trails I have completed—the MacLehose Trail, the Wilson Trail, the Hong Kong Trail, and the Lantau Trail—These symbolize the training and beliefs that guided my preparation. Making the support from the entire running club meaningful to me.
In my previous roles, I have always promoted ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and I believe this collaboration will help promote environmental sustainability. With #INVISIBLEBAG 2.0, I aim to show everyone that even when packaging is an important part of product value, that can be dissolved in hot water, thus not generating more plastic waste.
Unlike the usual #INVISIBLEBAG, #INVISIBLEBAG2.0 is made from 95% bio-based carbon content, remains water-soluble, compostable and biodegradable.
5. What new goals or upcoming events can you share with everyone?
For the past five years, my philosophy has remained the same—everything I do aims to make Crazy Running Club a ‘good’ running club. The definition of 'good' can vary greatly, whether it’s attracting more members, recruiting outstanding runners, or training our members to achieve awards in competitions. As a result, I actively seek feedback and opinions from different members.
The true spirit of Crazy Running Club lies in the companionship and teamwork among its members. I don’t need the club to have thousands of members; my goal is to foster a community of like-minded individuals. Even with just 50 or 100 members, that would be more than enough.
From our past trips to Vietnam and Jeju for overseas competitions to our upcoming participation in the UTMB in Chiang Mai, we strive together and celebrate our successes. I believe that 'joy and team spirit' are the fundamental values of our running club. Achieving results alongside my club members brings me greater happiness than any individual awards!
This November marks a significant milestone - ten years since my last participation, I will be joining the Oxfam Trailwalker again, teaming up with three students to tackle 100 km. This year feels particularly special because one of the students is aiming for a strong performance, and we have been training tirelessly. Their fitness level is even higher than mine, which makes me genuinely excited for this event.
Photo credit: KFC's instagram
6. Reflecting on everything, what advice would you give to your younger self?
If I could step into a time machine and travel back 20 years to talk to my younger self, I would say: 'Stay on the path you want to take. You can do this! Keep going; it’s perfectly fine! You’ll be okay!' Because I can envision what your journey will unfold into over the next 20 years.
Reflecting on the choices I made, I have no regrets about my younger self. In my youth, I often received advice from my parents: 'Since you’re studying actuarial science, why not become an actuary at a bank or insurance company?' However, after graduating from university, I decided to follow my own instincts and carve out my own journey, transitioning from an insurance company to becoming a running coach, and I have never looked back with regret.
A quick story but joining this insurance company started this running path, as this was where I met my mentor, KK, along with many others who have shaped my way.
KFC is familiar with various outdoor and running gear, and he also has a YouTube channel that introduces the latest equipment and features interviews with runners and brands.
7. Would you have a book to recommend?
Honestly, I haven't found much time to read lately, and I can’t even remember the last book I picked up. I usually watch movies with my daughters, but I recommend one we recently enjoyed: Inside Out 2. Running is closely related to emotional management. Through running, I can enter a focused mindset, gaining time to reflect while also allowing me to unwind and release negative emotions. For me, it's an excellent form of exercise.
8. What advice would you give to friends who are just starting this sport?
I think the biggest challenge isn’t the training itself, but rather the mindset and attitude of the runner. Once you shift your mindset, your body will naturally follow. For example, if you ask a coach, 'How many kilometers should I train each day or week?' they can certainly provide a training plan, but that alone doesn't hold much significance. Any student can easily search online and find the answers themselves.
What truly matters is learning how to adjust your mindset and attitude. Once you know your ‘why,’ running will come naturally.
If you really want to know how to structure a training session, I could tell you to run a set number of 200 or 400 meters on the track, but that kind of training can become tedious or boring. That’s why, in designing courses for Crazy Running Club, I prefer to incorporate slopes and trails, ensuring each training session feels fresh and engaging. While the training may be challenging, the experiences are incredibly enjoyable and rewarding!
Invisible Thoughts
The universe of trail running often serves as a powerful analogy for the journey of life, encompassing beauty, pain, joy, and the challenges we all face. Just as a person searches for meaning, once we discover our “why," everything begins to make sense. In this interview, KFC eloquently describes how mindset and commitment can lead to a profound sense of achievement and purpose. Throughout his running races, he has built resilience and a calm attitude, allowing him to enhance his performance and guide himself toward a greater vision to inspire others.
We, the founders of Invisible Company, are training and preparing for the “Marathon des Sables 2025”, we got to listen like sponges to all KFC advice as he did the “Marathon des Sables Legendary” years ago. This insight fuels our imagination and shapes our INVISIBLE thoughts about what it will be like to tackle a 100+ km self-supplied multi-day race!