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For two decades, Stone Tsang Siu-keung has raced across mountains as an elite trail runner.
But in recent years, Tsang’s finishing lines have begun to shift: he is no longer just chasing personal bests, but also protecting the ground he runs on.
“Through trail running, I’ve stayed in constant contact with nature,” the 48-year-old said. “Over time, I became increasingly aware of environmental issues and the significant impact humans have on the outdoors.”
What began as his personal pursuit of endurance evolved in 2017 into a trail conservation initiative called Little Stones, which restores Hong Kong’s trails with whatever the land provides – from rocks to fallen timber – to prevent the use of concrete on natural paths.
“The goal is to make the trail look as though it has always belonged there,” he said.
Tsang has finished twice in the top 10 of the Ultra Trail World Tour and is the only Chinese racer to finish three times in the top 20 of the Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc, the world’s most competitive trail running race.
Beyond elite athletics, Tsang is also a dedicated community leader, father and paramedic.
Now, competition no longer defines his passion for the trails: his next mission is to run 400km in four weeks across famous landscapes of mainland China, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, with a goal to raise HK$300,000 for the Little Stones Charity Foundation.
“I’d rather explore the ancient trails of Asia and understand local cultures and conservation messages,” he said. Along the way, he plans to run workshops, connect with local groups and film a documentary.
“What excites me now is exploring the world, meeting people, and feeling the pulse of a place through my own feet,” Tsang said.
Motivated by failure
Tsang recalled his biggest defeat during his second attempt at the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge.
The first time, he made history, finishing the 298km race under 60 hours. The second time, he arrived stronger, faster and certain of breaking his own record.
He thought to himself: “I’ll definitely break 50 hours.”
Tsang didn’t finish.
An injury forced him to withdraw after 200km.
“Falling short like that brought a lot of internal struggle and regret,” he recalled.
A week later, he returned alone to the trails, attempting the challenge again, but he made it 120km before the pain stopped him.
“I realised my unhappiness stemmed from being too focused on the result ... Life doesn’t always guarantee success, no matter how well you prepare,” he said.
He learned to find value in the attempt itself – the preparation, persistence and willingness to begin again. The failure prompted him to step away from racing for a year and write a book about trail running.
“It taught me that failure is often just a catalyst to do something else,” he said.
The next generation
Under his charity Little Stones, Tsang trains a small group of young trail runners every year for The North Face Summit running club, which aims to discover young stars with a passion for the outdoors.
This year’s 30 athletes include students Ken Zeng and Luciola Yiu. Both returned to the programme for their second year, drawn in by Tsang’s passion.
“I’ve been a road runner since Form One, but the trails are so much more interesting,” said Zeng, who is 20 years old. “The scenery is beautiful, and it’s why I want to keep developing in this sport.”
However, the transition from pavement to peak brings new challenges, especially after dark.
“Running on trails at night is much scarier than the day because it’s so dark and you can’t see much,” Zeng admitted. “There are so many spiderwebs – it’s a very unique and honestly quite creepy experience.”
Yiu, 18, said she still hadn’t overcome her fear of running on the trails at night. “I remember falling behind once on a mountain path and feeling really scared by the animal noises around me,” she shared.
Despite the challenges, the rewards keep them coming back.
“For me, the best part is reaching the highest peak and overlooking the trails below,” Yiu said.
Waiting for the wind
On the trail, when the urge to quit inevitably surfaces – mid-race, mid-climb or mid-doubt – Tsang teaches students to break down their problems by focusing on the next 5km, the next rest stop or the next small goal.
“Don’t look too far ahead ... You’ll crumble because it feels impossible,” he said.
In a world that prizes speed, Tsang’s philosophy runs counter to the current. Preparation matters. Timing matters. And when the moment comes, so does courage. His advice to young people is patience.
“Think of a sailing boat,” he said. “If there is no wind, there’s no point in sailing out ... You stay in the harbour and prepare.”
He urged young people to prepare themselves for their opportunity. Resilience, he believes, is built not in dramatic breakthroughs but in steady steps.
“You don’t become great in two weeks; real progress is measured in years,” he said.
