50 years of unification and the story of the free running steps of a 73-year-old athlete

Nearly a week after returning from Tien Phong Marathon 2025, Mr. Pham Quoc Luong still cannot run again. His 73-year-old legs still need to rest after the exciting runs in Quang Tri , which, as he said, were “runs of freedom”.

“An unforgettable memory,” Mr. Luong told Tien Phong newspaper reporters, his voice full of excitement, “I have been running for about 5 years now. At first, I just wanted to run for health, then I was lucky to meet the members of Phu My Hung Runner, then I was swept away by the children, from 5km to 10km, 21km and then 42km.

He had run 42km many times, but this was the first time he had run in drizzling rain and the weather was also a bit chilly. That was why he did not feel thirsty. Although he had a bottle of water with him, he had no need to drink. And he did not stop at any water stations.

After running for 4 hours, he wanted to speed up to reach the finish line early. Suddenly his legs felt heavy. 'Why is this so strange? I have never experienced this before,' he wondered. Unable to run anymore, he had to walk. After a while, he felt better and continued running. It took him 30 minutes to reach the finish line, so the result was not as expected. Before, he ran in Long Bien and achieved 4 hours and 24 minutes, which was his best result so far.

Mr. Pham Quoc Luong completed the 42km distance despite his "short, stiff legs" in the final kilometers.

Uncle Luong said that later, Kha Ly (the female athlete who won the 42km amateur women's race, age 30-39) explained that it was because she refused to drink water or electrolyte water, which led to the cramps. "That's right," he laughed, "When I reached the finish line, my legs were stiff, luckily the medical team took good care of me, spraying cold water and massaging me, then giving me water and telling me to drink a lot. This made Tien Phong Marathon 2025 a memorable event, and at the same time gave me a lesson for the next time, whether I'm thirsty or not, I still have to drink water."

This is the third time Mr. Luong has participated in Tien Phong Marathon. The first time was in Con Dao, when he had just started running so he only registered for the 10km distance. The next time was in Phu Yen last year. For him, running in Tien Phong Marathon is always very exciting.

“I know that Tien Phong Marathon is a traditional and very strong race,” Mr. Luong shared, “But the most impressive thing, which is also rare in any race, is the large crowd of people cheering. People along both sides of the road ran out to cheer and wave happily. Many places even put water tanks to enthusiastically invite the athletes to drink. This warm feeling is truly precious. And it also makes the runners more excited, more energetic to run and forget about fatigue.”

Memorable moments of the 73-year-old athlete of Phu My Hung Runner Club.

He laughed: “Maybe because I was so excited and bustling, I didn’t even bother to drink water. When I saw the villagers, I raised my hand and waved to them. Everyone was surprised, pointing and saying why is someone so old still running. Then along the running route, there were national flags everywhere, while many athletes were dressed in Uncle Ho’s army uniforms, holding the national flag fluttering in the wind. The feeling was hard to describe.”

50 years ago, Uncle Luong, like many people in the South, had to live under the Republic of Vietnam government. In protest, he refused to join the US-puppet army. Because he avoided the draft, he did not have freedom until the day of liberation.

“I remember around April 28 and 29, 1975, our troops entered Saigon,” Uncle Luong recalled. “I and everyone else poured out onto the street to welcome them, while the Republic of Vietnam soldiers took off their uniforms, military supplies, and guns and threw them all over the street. My house was in Phu Nhuan, at the beginning of the alley was a friend’s house. Normally, no one knew that my father was a revolutionary. It was only then that we saw him carrying the flag of the Liberation Front walking down the street declaring the complete liberation of the South and the reunification of the country that everyone knew. Everyone was excited.”

Mr. Luong was happy at the finish line with the Phu My Hung Runner flag. (Photo: Duong Trieu)

After the country was unified, Uncle Luong worked for the Saigon Railway, in the bridge team 2, repairing bridge piers damaged by the war. “The most regrettable thing was that when the North-South railway line was opened (late 1976, early 1977), I was on patrol duty and was not in the city. So I could only watch the train pass by, not being at the station to witness the historic moment, welcoming the train from the North.”

Looking back now, after 50 years of liberating the South and unifying the country, Uncle Luong is proud that "our country is powerful, with a new generation, new people full of enthusiasm as well as love for the homeland".

According to him, how many arduous steps of those who came before us have allowed us to run freely like today. And Tien Phong Marathon 2025 is like a tribute, when the free steps run with the song of victory.

Thanh Hai

Source: https://tienphong.vn/50-nam-ngay-thong-nhat-va-chuyen-ve-nhung-buoc-chay-tu-do-cua-vdv-73-tuoi-post1731243.tpo