Kim Man Lui

Kim Man Lui is an amateur runner. He completed the Petra Desert (gender ranked 58 of 105 finishers) in Vibram five-finger shoes and the Polar Circle (gender ranked 65 of 72 finishers) in 2025. To prepare for desert conditions, he trained at midday in 34°C heat, wearing a winter jacket while keeping his hair constantly wet as protection against heat stress. For the Polar Circle challenge, he gradually adapted to the cold through ice baths and by training outdoors in running spikes. He also strengthened his balance through uniquely customized drills: blindfolded backward walking with heel-to-toe and high-knee drills. He exercised mental toughness by running through the hillside cemetery.

This year, Kim aims to complete the Antarctic Ice, the final piece of his own extreme-running “Grand Slam.” Through these intense physical challenges and his training methods, Kim hopes to inspire students and readers to embrace resilience in their own professional journeys: Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. Beyond athletics, he holds a PhD (2006) and is the author of four professional books.