Are marathons too boring for you? Try your hand (or legs) at the inaugural Lantau Vertical (Sep 21), the first vertical race in Hong Kong.

The race will see participants climbing the highest peak (a whopping 934m) of Lantau Island over a 7km long ascent. The first 5km will be a slow ascent on the scenic Shek Pik Country trail—the real challenge lies in the last 2km, which will feature a steep climb with lots of high stairs (gulp). You can reward yourself after the race, though—the island is full of interesting things to see and do, and some of its attractions include stilt houses over the water, Cheung Sha Beach and Pui O Beach (Hong Kong's longest beaches), and of course, the famed Hong Kong Disneyland. 

Lantau Island is connected to the mainland of the Kowloon peninsula, so it's relatively easy to get there—simply take the MTR to Tung Chung Station. From the station, you can take a public bus, a taxi or a shuttle bus (departing at 7:15am on the day , HKD30 or $4.80) to the starting line. 

Registration, which closes on September 15, will cost you HKD220 ($35.22) if you sign up before July 31; it'll be raised to HKD260 ($41.65) after. Check out www.lantauvertical.com for more info.