Marco Lui
Beyond Boundaries。

Despite holding onto a journalistic mindset, Marco had always avoided stepping into the public eye. However, through KIKITE and TRAIL HEAD, he gradually began to share his own voice.

"It’s impossible to completely eliminate subjectivity in an article. What matters is how you convey it."

Having learned firsthand the weight of responsibility his words carried, Marco maintained a cautious stance while embracing this realization and stepping into new challenges.

While immersed in the fast-paced world of financial journalism, Marco’s first encounter with running came through a company charity run.

His first race was a half marathon. Without a clear sense of how far 21km really was, he simply knew he had to start training. The first time he stepped onto a treadmill, he was gasping for air after just 400 meters. But as he kept training, he realized that running helped him organize his thoughts and gave him a much-needed escape from work.

"The best part was not having to check my BlackBerry."

After successfully completing his first half marathon, he began entering races one after another. His first trail running race was the Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset 100 km. Though he timed out at the 70–80 km mark, the runners he met  along the way inspired him, and he became captivated by the world of trail running. This experience would ultimately pull him deeper into the sport.

After experiencing 50 km and 100 km races, Marco took onhis first 100-miler just one year into his running journey.. Fittingly, it was the 2012 ULTRA-TRAIL Mt. Fuji (now Mt. FUJI 100).

At the 120 km aid station, after descending a long downhill section, he decided to drop out. But after his race wristband was cut, he realized - he could still walk. Once he warmed up, he could still move—he had underestimated himself; he could have kept going.

Twelve years later, Marco returned to the same race — this time, as a member of the media.

"I’m now standing in a place my past self could never have imagined."

Once a runner, now the one behind the lens. From running the race to capturing it—another boundary crossed.

Marco runs to push himself to the limits.

"I want to quit, but I don’t. The joy and sense of accomplishment that follow that moment are what keep me running. I’m not an athlete striving for speed. I’m just an ordinary runner aiming to finish. Running is a time for introspection, a moment to confront my weaknesses and to break down my ego.
Marco says he runs to simulate how he will face himself under extreme stress, deliberately pushing himself to the limit in order to see how he can handle the difficult situations that arise.

During the Fun Trails Round Chichibu & Okumusashi 2024 100 km race, he hit a wall at the 35 km mark but made a remarkable recovery by the 85 km mark. Although his ranking dropped, he pressed on with the belief that "Even if I walk, I can finish. I will recover eventually." And he did.

For Marco, running has become an essential part of his life—helping him clear his mind, maintain mental well-being, and foster personal growth.

"It’s not just about running. Sometimes, I need to push myself. That’s why I occasionally take on long distances—to grow as a person."

Marco Lui’s life is a continuous journey of crossingboundaries. Moving between fields like finance, journalism, design, massage therapy, and running, he continuously expands his perspectives.

For Marco, crossing boundaries isn’t just about physical movement—it’s about embracing new cultures, values, and ways of thinking, transforming himself in the process.

His journey from Hong Kong to Tokyo, Australia, and the U.S., and his career shifts from journalist to marketer, massage therapist, and design researcher, symbolize this philosophy. Running, too, is a form of boundary-crossing for him.