So, for the veteran trail race director, the logistical headaches of organising more than 300 races in his capacity as owner of Action Asia Events are almost a breeze in comparison. Already an established competitor in his own right, Maddess initially joined the company in 2000 and eventually acquired majority control. Today, after 36 years in Hong Kong, he is widely regarded as one of Asia’s most established trail race directors, maintaining a packed annual schedule across the city and the region. The race is a “raw adventure in the middle of nowhere”, with runners battling the elements on the course and dealing with rough sleeping off it. Unlike events in Mongolia, where participants stay in traditional gers with beds and electricity, the Kazakhstan course is completely off the grid, with no power, no furniture and runners sleeping on mats on the ground inside yurts.