PolyU community showcases its “PolyU Spirit” with 3,000 participants at Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), a ten-time recipient of the “Most Supportive Group Award” at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, once again demonstrated its vibrant community spirit as around 3,000 members—including senior management, students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and their families and friends—came together to participate in this annual sporting event. The PolyU community’s united presence exemplified the pursuit of excellence and collective resilience that define the “PolyU Spirit”.

To empower PolyU runners in their quest for outstanding results, the University leveraged its interdisciplinary expertise and research strengths to provide comprehensive “Tech + Health” support. This included the deployment of PolyU’s self-developed Smart Cadence Sensor for real-time monitoring, pre-race 3D foot scanning and gait analysis, as well as personalised sports rehabilitation training—realising a two-way synergy of “research empowering competition, competition advancing research”.

PolyU President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, together with Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs); Dr Ben LAU, Interim Vice President (Campus and Facilities); Dr Laura LO, Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement); Prof. Horace MUI, Dean of Students; and various Faculty/School Deans, attended the event to cheer on the runners and connect with students and alumni, highlighting the strong cohesion of the PolyU community.

Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said he was delighted to witness the PolyU community’s robust participation, which fully embodied the University’s core values of perseverance and teamwork. He emphasised that sports are not only about competition, but also a powerful force for community cohesion, enabling the “PolyU Spirit” to shine ever brighter.

Prior to the race, the University provided all-round professional support. In addition to arranging long-distance running training courses led by professional coaches, the PolyU Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) offered 3D foot scanning, body composition and gait analysis for PolyU runners. Based on individual foot shape and running gait data, the Institute prescribed functional insoles developed by PolyU to support feet and reduce potential injury risks. For some marathon runners, the RISports also provided the self-developed Smart Cadence Sensor, which delivers real-time vibration alerts when a low cadence is detected, helping runners adjust their pace to reduce joint load and enhance running efficiency. The collected data will further contribute to future sports science research by RISports.

A team from the PolyU Department of Rehabilitation Sciences conducted pre-race functional fitness assessments and biomechanics tests for runners, designing personalised rehabilitation programmes to boost performance and minimise injury risk. Specialised physiotherapy services were also offered at the University’s rehabilitation clinic for runners in need. Additionally, the team organised a well-attended educational seminar on common running injuries and prevention strategies, equipping runners with knowledge to monitor their condition during training. On race day, the team was on-site to provide immediate support and treatment, helping runners recover quickly.

This year, approximately 2,300 PolyU runners competed in various race categories, with seven of them achieving outstanding results. Details of the award winners are as follows:

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