Catherine Lau Shuk-fan took up running in 2007 as a way to manage the stress of law school. What started as a personal escape soon became a lifelong passion. The sense of clarity and rejuvenation she found in running led her to sign up for her first 10km race at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon. Seventeen years later, she continues to push her limits, now preparing for another full marathon.
Over the years, Lau transitioned from chasing personal bests to helping others achieve theirs. Her journey took her to marathons around the world, culminating in her completion of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors. This prestigious achievement, which she reached at the Tokyo Marathon in 2024, places her among an elite group of runners globally.
Despite her love for running, Lau had never set out to become a six-star finisher. Her motivation initially stemmed from the mental benefits of the sport, enjoying the serenity of nature rather than relying on music for distraction. As her endurance improved, she became determined to meet Hong Kong’s benchmark for a fast female marathoner—completing a marathon in under three hours and 30 minutes.
Her progress accelerated when she joined the Law Society of Hong Kong’s running team in 2012, training under coach Gi Ka-man. In 2014, she achieved a personal best of three hours and 28 minutes at the Hong Kong Marathon and later that year participated in the London Marathon, her first major. Encouraged by her law firm colleagues, she secured an entry through a charity and finished in three hours and 37 minutes.
From there, she competed in Boston and Berlin, refining her training and nutrition strategies. While the Boston Marathon proved challenging due to cold, rainy conditions, Berlin provided a smoother experience. Despite these milestones, Lau did not initially aim for all six majors, instead taking breaks from competitive running to focus on her career.
Her journey resumed with the Chicago Marathon in 2019, where limited training resulted in a difficult race. Determined to improve, she set her sights on New York in 2020, but the pandemic disrupted her plans. She finally ran New York in 2023 and Tokyo in 2024, completing the six-star journey.
Reflecting on the experience, Lau acknowledges that not every race goes as planned, but embracing setbacks is part of the sport. Now, she finds fulfillment in supporting teammates and mentoring young athletes, including her nephew, who recently joined Hong Kong’s triathlon national squad.
Looking ahead, she plans to run the Sydney Marathon in August, dedicating the race to Alzheimer’s research in memory of a beloved teacher. Through every stride, Lau continues to find new meaning in running.
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