200km run in response to the policy of merging Dak Lak and Phu Yen into one house

Athletes arrive at Nghinh Phong tower square in the early morning of May 11 - Photo: Provided by the Organizing Committee

On the morning of May 11, athletes from Dak Lak checked in and saluted the flag at Nghinh Phong Tower Square (Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen) after completing more than 200km of running track connecting the two provinces.

With the theme "Same pace, same direction", the running program connecting Dak Lak - Phu Yen is organized by Dak Lak Running Association and Phu Yen Runners Club.

Especially participating in this program are famous names in the running world such as Hoang Van Hon, Tuan Kiet, Kim Anh, in addition to the 32nd SEA Games kick boxing champion Nguyen Hoang.

The athletes ran in an 11-stage relay, with a route of 206km, starting from the Victory Monument of Buon Ma Thuot City and finishing at Nghinh Phong Tower, Tuy Hoa City.

Every run is an emotion

Athletes depart from Buon Ma Thuot City

Mr. To Viet Vinh - Chairman of Dak Lak Running Association, head of the program's organizing committee - said that the majority of the group are experienced athletes, so everyone always maintains good physical condition and endurance.

As soon as the association came up with the idea, the running route and registration opened, many people responded. In this group, there were athletes who ran more than 80km.

The race takes place in a relay format, when reaching the station the athlete will hand the watch to the next person to continue running.

The organizers also prepared a logistics team including a motorbike leading the group and an ambulance running behind, along with pickup trucks and 29-seat vehicles for the athletes to rest on after completing each stage.

"There were no incidents during the race and safety was always ensured. The weather in Phu Yen and Dak Lak was sunny but not too harsh, so the athletes could adapt easily," said Mr. Vinh.

For him, this running program not only celebrates the two provinces coming together, but is also an opportunity for runners to see the scenery and changes of the two provinces along the way.

"The route is so beautiful, like when we reached Song Hinh district (Phu Yen), there were wooden stilt houses of the ethnic people, very similar to Dak Lak culture, we also saw rice fields being harvested at night," said Mr. Vinh.

And athlete Pham Quoc Duy said: "The final stretch of the race, seen from afar, is the Nghinh Phong tower square, the cool sea breeze blowing up makes us even more excited.

In particular, the group members were very impressed and moved when while running, Phu Yen people ran out to both sides of the road to cheer them on enthusiastically.

Athletes run through two provinces

Athletes also ran through the night to catch the sunrise at Nghinh Phong tower.

Bridge connecting Dak Lak - Phu Yen provinces

Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Binh, a member of the logistics team of the running program, shared that she and other members were assigned the task of providing medical support and support to athletes throughout the run.

"When we arrived, the members hugged each other happily because they had completed a very long run from early morning to evening. Most of all, we felt the openness and affection of the people of the two provinces for each other. I hope that the day the two provinces merge will develop the economy and society, bringing the people together," Ms. Binh shared.

Ms. Binh also said that after finishing the race, the group visited some tourist attractions in Tuy Hoa City, ate local dishes and interacted with the Phu Yen Runners Club. This afternoon, the group got on the bus to return to Dak Lak.

Also participating in the race is athlete Nguyen Van Long, known as a "mutant" with a cross-country running journey starting from Hanoi and passing through 17 provinces and cities with a total length of 1,846km.

Although he lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City, with his love for the two lands, he participated in this running program.

The watch records the time and number of kilometers traveled from Dak Lak to Phu Yen - Photo: MINH CHIEN

Athlete Nguyen Van Long smiled brightly after completing a run of more than 200km.

"I have participated in many running events, only feeling a little exhausted on the continuous uphill and downhill sections when passing through Song Hinh district, but it is easy to balance. For me, running is not only a passion but also a mission to spread the spirit of sportsmanship," said Mr. Long.

Mr. Long is also planning a trip through 3 Indochinese countries, starting from Ho Chi Minh City through the capital Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Vientiane (Laos) and ending in the capital Hanoi.

According to Mr. To Viet Vinh, this race also has practical significance in connecting and exchanging between running enthusiasts of the two provinces of Dak Lak - Phu Yen.

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MINH CHIEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chay-bo-200km-huong-ung-chu-truong-sap-nhap-dak-lak-va-phu-yen-ve-chung-mot-nha-20250511115702542.htm