Running a marathon is an incredible feat of fitness and endurance. Now imagine running seven marathons back-to-back, adding in 2,000 metres of elevation with each one, and doing it non-stop, without sleep. That’s what SCOTT PUGH recently achieved in Hong Kong, becoming an esteemed “Four Trails Finisher” – and supporting a great cause in the process.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m originally from the UK. I spent six years living in Hong Kong, which is really where my love for trail running took shape. I then moved to Singapore in 2015 for work.
Hong Kong was hugely formative for me – I arrived as more of a hiker than a runner, clutching a copy of the Hiker’s Guide to Hong Kong, slowly working my way through the city’s four long-distance trails. I never imagined back then that I’d one day attempt all four consecutively in one go.
What’s your running/fitness background?
I didn’t come from an elite running background. I started out hiking in the UK – things like the Three Peaks Challenge – and gradually transitioned into trail running.
Over time I got into ultra-distance and multi-day events. I raced XPD (a five-day, 500km adventure race), which gave me confidence that I could handle sleep deprivation and long efforts. My training for Four Trails peaked at around 190km per week, with 3,000 to 5,000m of elevation – which is hard to find in Singapore, so I had to be creative and travel for vert.
I’ve always been drawn to long, adventurous challenges rather than pure speed.
What does the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge involve?
The Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC) is nearly 300km, covering the MacLehose, Wilson, Hong Kong and Lantau Trails – strung together consecutively.
It involves roughly 14,000m of elevation gain and must be completed within 60 hours.
What makes it special isn’t just the distance. It’s the minimalist, almost purist format – there is no GPS tracking, no official course markings, no poles, no headphones or music, and only 12 hours’ notice before the start time!
You navigate yourself. You manage your sleep. You battle heat, humidity, steep stone steps, technical descents, and long exposed climbs. It’s as much mental as physical – similar in spirit to events like the Barkley Marathons.
The terrain is incredibly varied: jungle climbs, endless staircases, sweeping ridgelines, dense forest, exposed coastal sections. It’s beautiful, but relentlessly tough.
What’s your past history with the event?
Four Trails has been a long journey for me. I’d completed large portions of the trails individually while living in Hong Kong, but never back-to-back.
My first official attempt came after XPD, when I felt ready for a multi-day effort. I got a spot – which I felt I barely deserved at the time – and trained as best I could from Singapore.
That first attempt didn’t end in a finish. Like many before me, I underestimated just how unforgiving the challenge is.
But I kept coming back. Each attempt taught me something – about pacing, fuelling, sleep strategy, humility. Four Trails has been years in the making.
Tell us about your triumphant 2026 effort.
This year everything finally came together. The preparation was more structured and consistent than ever. I’d built the volume, the resilience, and, maybe most importantly, the mental calm.
The race unfolded steadily. I avoided major lows, stayed controlled early on, and didn’t get sucked into racing others. In previous attempts I’d let pressure or expectation creep in. This time, I ran my own race.
There were still dark patches – there always are – but I managed them better. Sleep deprivation hit, of course. The climbs felt endless at times. But nothing spiralled.
Crossing the finish line after years of trying was incredibly emotional. It felt earned.
I finished in 58 hours 43 mins, under the 60-hour cut-off to become a finisher.
Favourite moment? Hardest moment?
My favourite moment, without question, was finishing. After years of trying, fundraising, talking about it, training for it, to finally complete it was surreal.
The hardest thing was the cumulative fatigue deep into the final trail. When you’re sleep-deprived, legs shredded, and still staring at thousands of steps – that’s where the mental battle becomes real. You start negotiating with yourself constantly.
Any supporters you’d like to shout out?
There are so many, and they’re absolutely critical in an event like this: Jo Lodder who supported me in the race (he’s an ex-jockey who has just run across China!), my running coach Tomokazu Ihara (a former Four Trails finisher), Chris Timms (running club captain at the Singapore Falcons) and my amazingly supportive wife Indra Pamamull. The Hong Kong trail running community is phenomenal. The Singapore running community as well – the Falcons and others – have been hugely supportive.
And, of course, friends and family who have put up with years of me obsessing over Four Trails.
My wife and I had agreed she wouldn’t come to Hong Kong this time so she could stay home with our three kids in Singapore, Isabella, Xavier and Luca. But she surprised me by jumping on a plane at the last minute and was waiting for me when I crossed the line. After more than 58 hours on the trails, seeing her there was overwhelming. It reminded me how much this challenge was about more than just endurance – it’s about the support that carries you through.
Tell us about the cause you were raising money for.
This journey has always been about more than just finishing. In a previous attempt we raised S$50,000 for the UN Refugee Agency. This year, we again tied the challenge to fundraising and have so far raised $40,000 for UNICEF across my company fund-raising site and JustGiving.
If readers would like to support, they can contribute via the campaign page. Every donation helps and adds meaning to the miles.
Would you do Four Trails again? What’s next?
Never say never. Right now, I’m enjoying the accomplishment of having finished. Four Trails has defined a big chapter of my running life, so I don’t feel the immediate need to go back – but it has a way of pulling people in again. Every 10 years, Andre Blumberg the challenge director has a reunion for prior finishers and survivors. It would be hard to turn down that opportunity in 2031.
What’s on the radar this year?
I’ve signed up for the Rinjani 100 in Lombok, Indonesia. It’s a very different challenge – high altitude, volcanic terrain, tropical heat. I believe it is the most challenging 100-mile running course in the world and I love taking on challenges I think are beyond me.
After that, I’ll keep chasing big, meaningful projects – the kind that scare me a little; that’s usually how I know they’re worth doing. And I’ll continue to raise funds for important charities like UNICEF in the process.
Visit Scott’s campaign page at justgiving.com/page/four-trail-for-every-child.
Liked this feature on running an ultramarathon in Hong Kong? Read on for more things to do in Hong Kong and upcoming events.
