Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang (born in 1971), who worked at the British Embassy for 12 years, is currently the Financial Director of a non- governmental organization. Previously, Ms. Trang experienced shortness of breath after running just a few hundred meters. This is a common phenomenon for sedentary individuals when they first start running. The distance from her home to West Lake is only 2km, but she needed to stop and rest nearly a dozen times.
"I used to travel abroad frequently for work. These trips were usually purely for work. Once my assigned tasks were completed, I would just stay around the hotel and rest instead of going out to explore ," Trang began her story.
“In 2019, I started training harder after running about 1,000 km. I participated in my first race in Long Bien.”
 |
Ms. Thu Trang at the Tien Phong Marathon 2025. Photo: Provided by the interviewee. |
For the first two years, Trang had to overcome psychological barriers from her family because she ran too much, which was seen as something those unfamiliar with running didn't understand. Her daily routine changed 180 degrees. "My husband, who was used to seeing me in a neat and tidy image, wasn't happy to see me running so much. He even threatened, 'You'll ruin your knees if you run so much.' Now, seeing my friends and colleagues also running, my husband's opinion has changed," Trang happily explained.
To date, Ms. Trang has participated in 19 international races (18 marathons and 1 half marathon in India) across 5 continents and 5 Tien Phong Marathons. In 2023 alone, she ran in 10 countries across 4 continents. What's special about her races abroad is that she always carries the Vietnamese flag with her. "I love the moment of holding the flag at the finish line; it's so emotional," Ms. Trang shared. "Only when I leave Vietnam's borders do I truly understand and feel the pride in my country and homeland."
In Switzerland, Trang once ran the final kilometer of the race carrying a flag. Spectators on both sides of the track cheered loudly, "Trang, go go!" The enthusiastic cheers gave her goosebumps, making her forget her fatigue and run confidently towards the finish line.
“International races are well-organized, and their race kits are very compact, containing only a bib. Athletes have to buy everything else. Race kits in Vietnam have a lot of wasteful items because many people don't need them. Simplifying things is best. Instead of being extravagant, Vietnamese races should focus on the core, which is running. The Tien Phong Marathon race kit this year is lightweight and very pleasing to me. The shirt, inspired by the green color of the army uniform, and the bucket hat are two interesting items for any runner running in a historically significant area like Quang Tri ,” Ms. Trang commented.
 |
| After each half marathon, she voluntarily donates a small amount of 500,000 VND to the Smile Surgery Fund, which helps children with cleft lip and palate deformities. Photo: Provided by the interviewee. |
Sharing her running experience in the "land of fire," Ms. Trang said: "Quang Tri is the 34th province in Vietnam that I've visited to run a race. The people of Quang Tri are very friendly; they cheered enthusiastically along both sides of the race route. Running during the 50th anniversary of the reunification of the country, with the land united as one, in Quang Tri is a stroke of luck for me and over 7000 other athletes."
In the "land of fire," Trang spent nearly three hours completing her 38th half marathon, but the achievement was less important to her than the firsthand experiences she gained while running on this historic route. Running helps her appreciate the value of peace, independence, and freedom, to love life more, and to love her country and homeland even more.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/di-chay-de-them-yeu-to-quoc-post1729986.tpo
Comment (0)