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‘It destroyed my confidence’ – Chan fights vomiting and finds self belief to podium at Gaoligong by UTMB

Samantha Chan overcomes the mental barrier created by stomach cramps in the midst of her run to secure a podium finish in China

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Samantha Chan comes third in the 125km distance. Photo: Gaoligong by UTMB

In the dead of the night on Saturdayin Tengchong, Yunnan Province, Hong Kong runner Samantha Chan crossed the finish line of Gaoligong by UTMB 125 kilometre RCE division in third place, behind Chinese runners Han An and Qiang Peng.

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Chan held the Hong Kong flag aloft as she ran the final metres of the race through the dark cobbled streets of Heshun Ancient Village, the race’s finishing point.

But her success did not come easily, and she had to battle through vomiting.

The popularity of trail and ultra running in China is now reaching such heights that the country was chosen as the location for a first race under Ultra Marathon of Mount Blanc (UTMB) international brand platform, a strategic decision that seems to have paid dividends.

Despite the remoteness of the location, the number of runners was high, with 1,850 taking part across three distances – the 160km, 125km and 55km. Twenty-five countries were represented.

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Samantha Chan digs deep to finish, despite stomach cramps and vomiting. Photo: GaoliGong by UTMB
Samantha Chan digs deep to finish, despite stomach cramps and vomiting. Photo: GaoliGong by UTMB
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