The Gone Running/Joint Dynamics Racing Team - 2019-2020
Luis Alvelais
Jeff Campbell
Luis Alvelais
From: Mexico
Family: Active mother who loves running so forced me into running from young age so she could keep an eye on me. Middle child of three. Whole family living back in Mexico apart from my older brother who lives in Copenhagen.
Profession: Architect Designer
Focus: Trail Running
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- VIbram Hong Kong 100 (2018) 12’ 39”
- Green Race Ultra 2018 (2nd Overall)
- Yading Kora Ultra 2018 (8th Overall)
- Devil’s Ridge 2018 (4th Overall)
- Gurkha Trailblazer 2019 (2nd Overall)
Awards: Nominated Most Improved Runner in 2018 GR Awards
Goals for 2020:
- OTW, Lavaredo & UTMB
Motto: When you reach your maximum limit, keep running.
Unusual You: Own two degrees, speak 3 different languages, love cooking, yoga fanatic and I love Piña Coladas & getting caught in the rain.
Tip for beginners: Record your progress and go back to it from time to time. Running is a generous sport that will show improvement in no time. Concentrate on the time on your feet more than the distance.
Andrew Blake
Jeff Campbell
Luis Alvelais
From: Grew up in South Africa, before living in London for 9 years. Moved to Hong Kong at the end of 2018.
Family: Family of 4 children, all very sporty growing up. Focused on hockey and squash during school and university, before moving to endurance sports in my mid 20s.
Profession: Business Analyst for an investment company
Focus: Road running primarily
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- Abbott World Marathon Majors 6* finisher - London, Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo, New York and Boston. All sub 3 aside from Boston
- Tokyo Marathon - current PB (2:45) - 9 sub 3-hour marathons
- Two Oceans Ultra Marathon - 56km (3:58) - Silver medal for sub 4 hours
- Ironman Budapest 70.3 - 4:33 (PB). Completed 11 70.3 races to date, including 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas.
- Comrades Marathon - 89km (7:44)
Goals for 2020:
- Sydney Half Marathon 2019 (sub 1:19) – “A” Race
- New York Marathon 2019 (sub 2:50)
- Osaka Marathon 2019 (sub 2:45)
- TBC Marathon 2020 (sub 2:40)
- Ironman 70.3 Lake Taupo 2020 (sub 4:33)
Motto: Run. Travel. Live.
Unusual You: I love to travel and have been to over 50 countries so far.
Beginners Tip: Enter a race, as then you have something to work towards and keep you motivated and focused on your goal.
Jeff Campbell
Jeff Campbell
Jeff Campbell
From: Toronto, Canada
Profession: Lawyer
Focus: A bit of everything helps keep me sharp and motivated. For trail running, I love the short stuff. The 50k distance has turned into a bit of a sweet spot for me, but I will begrudgingly step up to the 100k distance if subjected to enough peer pressure. On the roads, everything from 5k to the marathon.
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- 2018 Oxfam Trailwalker - 1st overall team. Such an iconic race, with an incredible support team and 4 teammates willing to bleed for each other.
- 2017 The North Face HK 50k - 1st overall. Big pressure race against stiff competition. Was not expecting to win, and set a new course record (since shattered by Yan Longfei!).
- 2019 BMW Berlin Marathon - 2:29 (PB). My third attempt at the marathon distance. After a big block of road-specific training, I managed to squeeze under my goal time of 2:30
Awards:
- Male Runner of the Year - 2017 Hong Kong Trail Running Awards
- 2x King of the Hills - 2017-18, 2018-19
Goals for 2020:
- Asia Trail Master Series.
Motto: Train hard. There are no miracles on race day.
Unusual You: The headband only comes out for races!
Beginners Tip: Run more. This is a sport that rewards consistent high-volume training over long periods.
Janine Canham
Janine Canham
Jeff Campbell
From: I am half English, half Lebanese
Family: I have a partner, Mo Devlin, who I met through running, and twin boys called Josh and Sam. We also have 2 dogs, Jinx and Lola.
Profession: Chief Operating Officer, Asia, of an investment research stockbroking firm
Focus: My passion is for multi stage ultra running on different types of terrain (trail, forest, mountain, desert, jungle) but I am focusing on road running this coming season to see what I can achieve.
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- Being a member of Racing the Planet’s 4 Deserts Club (Gobi, Sahara, Atacama and Antarctica)
- Finishing 2nd female overall in the Bhutan International Marathon
- Coming 3rd in the 9 Dragons Ultra
- Breaking the 25 year Masters course record at the Green Power 50k
- Completing a full Ironman
- Taking part in the World Marathon Challenge (7 marathons on 7 Continents in 7 Days).
Running awards
- ANTS Runner of the Year
- Gone Running Masters Trail Runner of the Year
Goals for 2020?
- I would like to complete the 6 marathon majors.
- I am aiming for a new marathon PB.
- Compete in the HK and Asian Masters Athletics Track Championships
Motto: “One Life. Live It.”
Unusual You: I was brought up in Beirut and I speak Arabic.
Beginners Tip: Sign up for something that scares you a little bit. You’ll surprise yourself by what you can achieve if you try.
Lucy Cant
Janine Canham
Samantha Chan
From: New Zealand
Family: A small family, spread out with my Mum and Dad in New Zealand and my brother in San Francisco. When I was little, dad used to go for his run then come then when he came back I’d get him to take me for my little run round the block - that’s how I started running.
I live in Hong Kong with my husband David and Border Collie rescue-pup Sputnik.
Profession: I work with my husband David, running our design Studio, Studio Cassells, specialising in Museum and visitor experience design.
Focus: Trail and Ultras (since Hong Kong has all these beautiful hills to train in!)
Top 3-5 racing achievements
- UTMB Oman 130km (2019) 5th place, Open Women
- HK100 (2019) 10th place, Open Women
- Translantau 50km (2017) 2nd place, Open Women
Goals 2020
· UTMB August 2020 ( first miler)
· HK Oxfam Trailwalker 2020 (first team event)
- Keep working on my downhills
- Start focusing more on my mental game
Motto: Love hills!
Unusual You: In the summer of 2009/10 a friend and I hiked the length of NZ on the Te Araroa trail. Through trails, down beaches, across rivers, over mountains, unsupported, for 3300km, 98 days.
Beginners Tip: Tell yourself you love hills until you believe it. Make every single thing you say to yourself while running positive. Drink to thirst!
Samantha Chan
Janine Canham
Samantha Chan
From: Hong Kong
Focus: Trail running
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- 2017 TDS 13th
- 2017 HK100 13th
- 2017 Ultra Gobi 3rd
- 2018 Moon Trekker 1st mixed team
- 2019 HK100
Goals for 2020:
- 2020 UTA
- Run a marathon PB
Motto: Run to have fun
Unusual You: I eat a lot of junk food, and I like sprinting despite doing ultra Marathons
Beginners Tips: Run longer, eat more and stay happy
Matt Clarke
Charlotte Cutler
Richard Cowley
Nationality: UK
Profession: Business & Humanities Teacher
Focus: Road Running
Top 3-5 racing achievements
- Stan Chart HK Marathon 2017. First Marathon 2’32’54
- London Marathon 2019. Not quite a PB (2’33’32) but pleased with the result considering I had pulled my hamstring in the lead up to the race which hampered my training
- Winning China Coast Half Marathon (2016 & 17). Tough, tough road course. Second year ran 75 flat in the middle of marathon training which was 2nd fastest time of all time on the course
Goals for 2020:
- A new PB in the marathon
- Top 10 marathon & half marathon times in HKAAA rankings
- A race likely to be Tokyo Marathon
Motto: Champions are made when no-one is watching
Unusual You:I only learnt to click my fingers 3 years ago (yes I am a slow developer, I put it down to being left aka ‘cack’ handed
Beginners Tip: Consistently is the key to progress, also listen to your body and don’t be afraid to adjust your training
Richard Cowley
Charlotte Cutler
Richard Cowley
Nationality: UK
Family: I come from a family of teachers. Parents from Wales but met in London at University and then moved to England. 2 younger sisters, both teachers in Malaysia.
Profession: HOKA One One Regional APAC Sales and Events Manager
Focus: Trail and road running but mostly trail running concentrating on shorter distances 10 - 20km
Top 3-5 racing achievements
- 2 x Lantau 70 Relay Champion, 2 x Valentines Day Race Champion
- 1 x Moontreeker 40km Team of 4, Peak 24, Great Relay Champion with the GR/JD team
- Winning a number of other individual/team short distance races with a mixture of trail, road, adventure, kayak and run/swim during my 11 years in Hong Kong. I enjoy pushing to the limit over short varied terrain.
- Taking part in the Sky Running World Championships in Yading, Sichuan, China. Great course, amazing scenery, and snow-capped mountains at 4,000 meters.
- PB of 35 minutes for 10km road
Goals for 2020:
- To try and win Moontreeker 40km team of 4 title for a second year in a row
- To try and win Lantau 70 relay for the third time
- To take part in as many shorter road and trail races as possible and improve my overall training routine.
Motto: Experience as much as you can, when you can because you never know when you might not be able to.
Unusual You: I have lived on 5 continents and traveled to 90 countries.
Beginners Tip: Try to vary your training and run with a group, it makes it more fun and social and your more likely to attend and keep up the training.
Charlotte Cutler
Charlotte Cutler
Charlotte Cutler
From: UK
Family: I am married to Martin and have 2 sons: Lucas (8) and Olly (6).
Profession: Policy analyst (China)
Focus: You forgot track! I am a track runner at heart but these days am generally a trailer/roadie
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- Winning the Standard Chartered 10K in 2007, 3 days after arriving in Hong Kong
- Representing Hong Kong for 1500m
- Captaining Cambridge University Athletics, including setting a match record for 400mHurdles and leading them (with Oxford) to their last win over Harvard & Yale (23 years ago!)
- A successful transition to trails in the 2018/19 season! For a track/road runner, this is a big deal…
- Winning the Fifth Avenue Mile in New York, 2001
Goals 2020:
- I would like to have a proper go at OTW. The longest I have raced is 65km, so this will be a big step up.
- I would also like to target a couple of 50K trail races,
- MSIG ActionAsia HK, North Face 50K (if I can get in!).
- I am also determined to get the course record for the GreenPower 25K (I was 1 minute off it in my debut in 2018)
Motto: Keep On Going! (my old track coach, Frank Horwill, used to yell this out as we ran around and around the track over and over again on a Saturday morning, usually in the rain, never knowing when he would blow the whistle to finish)
Unusual You: I can wiggle my ears
Beginners Tip: Run to enjoy it, don’t worry about times or performances.
Mo Devlin
John Ellis
Charlotte Cutler
From: Scotland
Family: I come from a family of 5 boys and no girls. I now have a partner (Janine) two boys Sam and Josh and two dogs Jinx and Lola
Profession: PE Teacher
Focus: Previously road but trail now.
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- Marathon PB 2:30
- In 2015, during 12 weeks of radiotherapy for cancer I completed 12 races (road and trail) and won my Category in every race.
- Competed in and won many races from 5k to 50km in the past 5 years. I judge myself against the best runners, irrespective of age.
Running awards
- AVOHK Male Athlete of the Year 2016
- Gone Running Master Trail Runner of the Year 2016, 2018
Race goals for 2020?
- Gradually moving up in distance to 50km:
- Ultramarathon De Sai Kung October 2019
- Lantau 70 (GR-JD Team) Oct 2019
- Garmin 42 Nov 2019
- Mtn Range 50 Nov 2019
- KOTH Series Dec 2019-Mar 2020
- China Coast Half Marathon Jan 19/2020
- S Africa Ironman 70.3 Jan 2020
- 9 Dragons 50km Feb 2020
- Salomon TTT Mar 2020
- COO April 2020
Motto: Inner Strength. It’s tattooed on my back!!
Unusual You: I spent 10 years in the USA playing and coaching soccer for a living!
Beginners Tip: Learn to run tall with a relaxed, efficient technique and smile when you run!!
John Ellis
John Ellis
John Ellis
From: Perth, Australia
Family: Happy family of six, with an incredible partner Elaine, little rocket Max, smiley Dash, and our trusty Frenchies, Enzo and Mila.
Profession: Investment manager and running entrepreneur
Focus: Ultra trails
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- Asia Trail Master Champion 2019
- 6th at HK100 in 10:35 in 2018
- Winner 9 Dragons 50/50 in 2018
- Oxfam Trailwalker Champion 2018
- 1st Queensland 24HR Champs 2016
Running awards: Asia Trail Master Champion 2019, back-to-back Asian Skyrunning Ultra Champion 2017-18
Goals for 2020:
· Honestly, less racing, be a better family man, and let the injuries heal!
Motto: Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.
Unusual You: I often have breathing issues at the start of uphill races and have to run slow for the first hour – helps my pacing!
Beginners Tip: Don’t overthink it. Just get out and run and have fun.
Will Hayward
John Ellis
John Ellis
From: New Zealand, but lived in Hong Kong for much of the last 20 years
Family: Married for 25 years to Sasha, with two teenagers, one dog, one cat
Profession: Dean of Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- Big Boar’s Backyard Challenge 2019: Winner (104 miles, 25 hours)
- Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra 2019: 2nd place (246 miles, 59 hours)
- Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge 2018: Survivor (71 hours 52 mins)
Goals for 2020:
- Return to Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra in October 2020
- Create and enjoy some local challenges
Motto: Give everything, even when there’s nothing left
Unusual you: I have Dupuytren’s Contracture which means that my little fingers can’t straighten
Tips for beginners: If other people can do it, you probably can too. But you might need to work at it for a while.
Mary Hui
Mary Hui
Mary Hui
From: Hong Kong
Family: My brother Edwin, who is not a trail runner, runs down hills better than I can.
Profession: Journalist
Focus: Trail running. I used to run road, cross country, and track, but got sick of being obsessed with splits. I do miss feeling speedy, though. So perhaps a return to the road could be in the making.
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- Fast50 2019, women’s champion. Loved the course.
- HK50 HK Island, women’s champion. My first solo 50km race on familiar trails.
- North Face 50, women’s 3rd place. Had a blast running with the runner-up for much of the race.
- At one point, I held the Hong Kong junior records in the steeplechase and the 15-kilometer road distance.
Running Awards
- Trailblazer Youth Runner of the Year 2019
Goals for 2020:
- Be better about doing core exercises and other conditioning exercises regularly at home
- Maintain my speed
Unusual You: I used to be able to do the splits, now I can barely touch my toes.
Beginners Tip: Consistency, consistency, consistency! And to quote my college coach. consistency over epic-ness
JCY Ho
Caitriona Jennings
Caitriona Jennings
From: Hong Kong
Family: Family of 4, with one crazy loving elder sister. Our parents always told us to help those in need and take commitment seriously. They have been volunteering for Boy Scouts every Saturday for the past 48 years!
Profession: Lead the E-commerce team for a luxury brand
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- MoonTrekker 50k 2018 1st female
- Rebel Queen 2019 - 1st female
- The 9 dragons 50/50 2019 - 2nd female
- Vietnam mountain marathon 70k 2019 - 1st female
- MSIG Summit @ Mui Wo 27k - 1st female
Awards:
- HK50 series 2018-19 - female champion
- Nominee for the most improved female runner 2019
- Asia trail master 2019 - 8th female
Goals for 2020: Strengthen my body and be race ready for any last minutes sign ups!
Motto: Be your own inspiration!
Unusual you: My mandatory items include a red lipstick, eyeliner and mascara
Tips for Beginners: Be unrealistic and realistic about your goals! Learn from your failure, not someone else’s success!
Caitriona Jennings
Caitriona Jennings
Caitriona Jennings
From: Ireland
Family: My family are sports fanatics! As the youngest of 3 girls I spent my childhood trying to keep up! My eldest sister is an Olympian (6th place finish in Rio 2016) and is a former World Champion (LW1X). My bother-in-law is a double Olympian (4th place finish in Atlanta 1996) and a former double World Champion (LM1X).
Profession: VP Risk at an aircraft leasing company based in Hong Kong
Focus: Road Running, specializing in Marathon/Ultramarathon
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- Olympian - represented Ireland in London 2012
- 3rd place in Comrades Marathon 2019
- Irish record holder for 50km (2:19:43)
- 7th place in World Championships 50km 2019
- 4th place in World Championships 50km in 2015
Running awards
Athletics Ireland award for Irish Ultrarunner of the Year 2019
Race goals for 2020?
- Top 5 Two Oceans Marathon
- Top 3 Comrades Marathon
- Sub 1:15 half marathon
Motto: "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul"
Unusual You: I have done the highest bungee jump in the world
Beginners Tip: Running is fun - try not to take it too seriously and enjoy it - the results will follow!
Henri Lehkonen
Caitriona Jennings
Kim Matthews
From: Sydney, Australia
Family: Not in Hong Kong!
Profession: Business Development @ EY
Focus: Mountain Ultra Trail
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
Any of my ultra-wins:
- Green Power 2016
- Hard As Nayls 2016
- XTE Dark 45 2016
- XTE Dark 45 2017
- Run Through the Jungle (Taiwan) 2017
- Luxi Ultra (Jiangxi, China) 2018
Any of my 700+ ITRA races:
- Hong Kong 100km 2017
- Translantau 100km 2017
- Ultra-Trail Australia 100km 2017
- Eiger 101km 2017
- Sud-Tirol 70km 2017
- Ultra-Trail Australia 100km 2019
Race goals for 2020:
- Western States, Endurance Run, California, 2019
- Bear 100, Utah, 2019
- Ultra-Trail Cape Town, South Africa, 2019
- Hong Kong 100, 2020
- Transgrancanaria, Spain, 2020
- Ultra-Trail Australia, Australia, 2020
Motto: Stay hydrated
Unusual You: I like running 150+ km per week
Top tip for beginners?
- More miles
- Do speed work
- Race often
Kim Matthews
Charlotte Taquet
Kim Matthews
From: Melbourne, Australia
Family: I live in Hong Kong with my husband
Profession: Speech therapist
Focus: Trail running, ultra marathons
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
Asia Trail Master champion 2017
Marysville Marathon 50km, Australia – 1st female
- Dalat Ultra Trail 70km, Vietnam – 1st female
- Vietnam Mountain Marathon 100km, Vietnam – 1st female
- Clark-Miyamit Falls Ultra 50 mile, Philippines – 1st female
Running awards: Asia Trail Master Champion 2017
Unusual You: Vegan. If there’s no chilli on it, it’s not worth eating. Travelled to over 70 countries.
Beginners Tip: Slow down.
Amy Mumford
Charlotte Taquet
Charlotte Taquet
From: West Sussex, UK
Family: Oldest of 3 children, 2 brothers, now mother of 5 children
Profession: Full time mother of 5 children, marathoner and part time teacher.
Focus: Road Running, all distances particularly Marathon
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- Breaking the Chine Coast Marathon Record in 2019 by 5 minutes
- 3 marathons under 3 hours
- 36 minutes for 10k on the peak
- 1st Halong Bay Heritage Marathon
- 2nd Phuket Marathon 2019
Running awards
- AVOHK Female Athlete of the Year
- SCMP feature on my racing and beating cancer
Race goals for 2020?
- Qualify for the World Veteran Marathon Championships
- Represent HK at the Asia Championships
Motto: Believe in yourself and your dreams will come true
Unusual You: I have beaten 3rd degree breast cancer and train at 3am in the morning
Beginners Tip: People who criticize and say you can't do it make your stronger
Charlotte Taquet
Charlotte Taquet
Charlotte Taquet
From: France
Family: One older sister, two beautiful nephews, living near my parents in the suburbs of Paris
Profession: IP Legal Counsel
Focus: Mountain Ultra Trail
Top 3-5 racing achievements
- CCC 100kms 2019 (16h31)
- 9 Dragons 50kms 2019 (1st woman, 9th overall)
- HK Vibram 100kms 2018 (14h02)
- Mongolia 3days 100kms (1st woman, 3rd overall)
Running awards: Nominated Most Improved Female Runner in 2018 HK Trailrunning Awards
Race goals for 2020:
- Racing more in Asia
- MaxiRace in France in May
Motto: Never give up (it’s a mental game) and have fun!
Unusual You:
- Blackbelt in Judo
- Plant-based diet, addicted to Brussell sprouts and nuts
Top tips for beginners:
- Set up goal & stay consistent
- Increase slowly your base miles
- Listen to your body
- Have fun & challenge yourself
Dennis Theadosis
Ryan Whelan
From: Melbourne, Australia
Family: Super tolerant wife, Anna, and two awesome kids, Isaac & Eva.
Profession: Head of Project Management Office for Insurance Company
Focus: Trail running, mostly ultra-distance.
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- Finishing Diagonale des Fous 100 miler in 2017 with a number of injuries sustained from a race fall 3 weeks prior, including minor surgery to remove a rock from under my stitches on the day I flew out to Reunion Island for the race.
- Twice finished HK Grand slam (HK100, TNF100, OTW and TransLantau100) in under 60 hours
- Two-time OTW top-10 team
- 2:44 Tokyo marathon with no road training
Race goals for 2020:
- Top-5 team at OTW
- Get a spot in HK4TUC and finish <60 hours
- HK100 PB (if I don’t run HK4TUC)
Motto: There’s always a solution!
Unusual You: I still use Band-Aids on my nipples…
Top tip for beginners: Prioritize adequate sleep. Makes everything easier.
Ryan Whelan
Ryan Whelan
From: Wirral, UK
Family: Youngest of a big family, all living in UK apart from a brother in Singapore and me in HK
Profession: Personal trainer
Focus: Trail running with a hint of road
Top 3-5 racing achievements:
- Moontrekker 2 30km wins, 1 40km win
- The Fast 50km
- KOTH ½ series win
- Representing GR-JD relay teams
- North Face 50KM PODIUM
Goals for 2020:
- Improve in 50km races, target a podium in an overseas race
Motto: Hard work pays off
Unusual You: My cats are called Owen & Wilson, and are my best mates.
Jono Woodhouse
From: Australia & South Africa
Profession: Software Engineer
Focus: Trail running
Top 3-5 racing achievements
- Sub-10 hour LT70 2018 & 2019
- LT140 Crazy challenge 2019 143km
- 3rd MoonTrekker 40km 2018
- 2019 Lantau 50km & TGR Summits 50km were fun
- Teams: 1st Pair MoonTrekker 40km 2017,1st Relay Lantau 70 2017
Goal for 2021: Enjoy the outdoors, and running community. Have fun running and try and get a 100 miler completed.
Beginners Tips: Make sure you are having fun
Unusual You: I proposed to Char in the Himalayas at 3500m. (And she said yes!)
Motto: Hope it’s hot (although that’s bitten me a few times 😊)
- Other sports: I also enjoy cycling (road and mtb) and some occasional kitesurfing
Emily Woodland
From: Born in Shaftesbury, UK, Grew up in Lancashire
Family: There’s nothing brief about my family’s story!!, They are all in the UK though
Profession: Sustainable Investment
Focus: Trail. I avoid road as much as I can 😊
Top 3-5 racing achievements
- UTMB 2017
- Winning the Atacama Crossing in 2014
- Finishing UTA 2019 after being sick for a really long time
- HK100 2018
- Queen of the Hills 2017-18
Running awards: nominated once for most improved female 2018
Goals for 2020:
Just to get back to somewhere in the realms of where my fitness was before I got sick
What’s your motto: Carpe diem!
Unusual You: I was actually a semi-pro dancer growing up until I went to uni, stopped dancing, got really fat and had to do something so started running
Beginners Tip: There is no real substitute for doing the time on your feet