Five highlights of the Ho Chi Minh City Night Run 2024

The VPBank VnExpress Marathon HCM City Midnight on March 3rd brought together 11,000 athletes to conquer the race course through the night, explore the vibrant city, and crown several new champions.

Opening the VnExpress Marathon series in 2024, the VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight left a strong impression in terms of both organization and professionalism. Nearly 11,000 athletes from across the country had exciting, safe, and engaging experiences during the event.

Running through the night in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City

At 11 PM on March 2nd, a corner of Truong Dinh and Nguyen Du streets – usually quite quiet despite being in the heart of District 1 – became unusually lively with music and the arrival of thousands of people. Dressed in green, a stream of people lined up at the starting gate, filling the street in front of Tao Dan Park, warming up, chatting, and waiting for the moment to start to experience the largest night running race in Ho Chi Minh City.

11,000 athletes at the starting line of the VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight 2024. Photo: VM

At midnight, the starting signal sounded, and athletes surged forward, beginning their journey to explore Saigon at night. This was the second time the race was organized, featuring one of the most beautiful routes. Starting from Tao Dan Park, 11,000 participants in four distances (5, 10, 21, and 42km) traveled through the central streets of District 1, resembling a nighttime tourist tour.

Along the route are a series of famous Saigon landmarks such as the Independence Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Grand Opera House, Bach Dang Wharf, etc. The three distances of 10, 21, and 42km also conquer the Ba Son and Thu Thiem bridges. The thundering footsteps of thousands of athletes filled the streets, enlivening the Saigon night. Thousands of people enjoying themselves in the city center poured out to cheer and support, creating an impressive and spectacular sporting scene on this weekend.

Ms. Giang Ngan, representative of the Garmin Running Club, said that the feeling of running through the country's largest city at night is very different and exciting. Despite participating in the first season, she and over 100 other GRC members still want to experience this feeling again. "There were parts where I saw Saigon bustling and vibrant, which was very exciting. Other parts were quiet, allowing runners to relax, observe, and feel everything around them. This is something only night running can offer," Ms. Ngan said.

Thousands of athletes run through the heart of Saigon at night.

This year, the organizers adjusted the start times for the various distances. Specifically, the 10km race started at 0:00, the 5km race at 0:30, the 41km race at 1:00, and the 21km race at 2:30. This adjustment provided athletes with ample space and comfort during the race. The distances also avoided conflicts and traffic congestion. Many runners in the half marathon (HM) sub3 or full marathon (FM) sub5 and beyond even got to admire the vibrant red sunrise from the bridges.

The race track was "lit up".

The 21km and 42km distances pass through Bui Thien Ngo and Nguyen Thien Thanh streets, spanning approximately 3km on the Thu Thiem peninsula. This section of road lacks a lighting system and has been a concern for many athletes participating in previous marathons.

VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight, aiming to ensure safe competition conditions, made an effort to illuminate the route. From 2 AM, when the first full-marathon runners crossed the Thu Thiem peninsula, 100 Green SM drivers started their electric vehicles to light up the route. The drivers' all-night efforts made the route brightly lit, leaving a strong impression and supporting the athletes to compete at a faster pace.

100 Green SM electric motorbikes lit up the race track in Thu Thiem.

Dan Quyet, the 42km champion, had previously expressed concerns about the dark course affecting his pace. After the race, he acknowledged that the organizers' efforts greatly helped high-achieving runners maintain a stable pace, eliminating worries about potholes and gravel, and enabling them to achieve their goals. Tieu Phuong, the first Vietnamese female runner to complete six major races, was also impressed with the course. She said the image of drivers shining lights for runners was both memorable and emotionally moving.

The VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight prioritizes athlete safety above all else. In addition to the illuminated course, the race features 18 water stations. Each station is nearly 100 meters long and includes numerous tables offering filtered water, Revive electrolyte drinks, bananas, watermelon, cooling spray, ice chests, and foam insulation. Eleven fixed and mobile medical stations are stationed at all critical points. Approximately 200 volunteers, traffic police, and self-defense militia members are deployed to manage traffic flow and guide athletes.

Impressive in the eyes of international runners.

With over 600 athletes from numerous countries around the world, this is a record number for the VnExpress Marathon series. Most athletes, after completing the race, were impressed by the organization and the unique experience they had on the course.

Sean Cotter (Ireland) clearly felt the vibrancy of Saigon at night while running 10km. He crossed two famous bridges and observed the bustling atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh City. Cotter also enjoyed the enthusiasm on the race course as 11,000 people joined together. Along the way, he was cheered on by many locals and volunteers. "The encouragement from the fans along the way, the applause, the shouts, even just their presence was enough to give us strength. I feel happy and grateful that they were there and helped us complete the race," the foreign runner shared.

Many foreign runners participated in the race.

Luke (from France), who has lived in Vietnam for over 10 years, participated in a nighttime event for the first time. A decade of living in Vietnam has given him a deep understanding of the local culture and lifestyle. However, participating in the race gave this runner a very different feeling about Saigon. "It was the first time I'd seen the streets so spacious and cool. Even though I finished drenched in sweat, I felt exhilarated. If I have the chance, I'll definitely participate in a night race again next year," Luke shared.

Like Scotter and Luke, hundreds of foreign runners praised the race course and the exciting experience in the middle of the night. The sportsmanship of the Vietnamese people also impressed international friends.

Locals and volunteers cheered on the runners.

The new champions

Dan Quyet was the name that left the strongest impression at the VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight. For over two years, the runner, born in 1990, has diligently participated in races within the system with the aspiration of winning the overall championship. At last weekend's race, Dan Quyet's wish was realized.

He trailed his opponent Truong Van Tam for over 85% of the race, but persevered with a chasing strategy, conserving energy. In the decisive kilometers, taking advantage of his opponent's slowdown, the 34-year-old runner accelerated to overtake him. Dan Quyet won the overall championship with a time of 2:41:28, 16 seconds faster than Truong Van Tam.

"I'm so happy and thrilled because this is a long-awaited achievement. I never expected to have such a great race," said the 34-year-old runner after winning the overall title in the VnExpress Marathon series for the first time.

The finishing moments of the four champions in the 21km and 42km races.

Another surprising contender was Doan Thi Oanh in the 21km race. Oanh is a physical education teacher from Vinh Phuc province and only started participating in competitions at the beginning of 2024. The event on March 3rd was her first time competing in the South, but she caused a sensation by beating established names like Phuong Trinh and Doan Hien to win the championship in 1:26:02. This victory makes her a promising contender to watch in future competitions.

Doan Oanh said that winning the championship in the major VnExpress Marathon series was beyond her wildest dreams. This motivates her to strive for more training and achieve new milestones in the future. Most recently, the female runner will participate in the VnExpress Marathon Imperial Hue on April 21st with the goal of seeking PR.

Nguyen Huu Loc, the men's 21km champion, is also a relatively unknown name in the VnExpress Marathon. He finished first in 1:14:00, faster than two other prominent names, Duy Thang and Ly Nhan Tin. Huu Loc is an athlete under the Dong Nai athletics team and has not participated much in amateur marathon events.

Besides the new champions, the women's 42km race saw a familiar name, Pham Thi Hong Le, take first place. This marks the seventh time the runner from Binh Dinh has won a race in the VnExpress Marathon series.

Many personal bests

Running in the sweltering heat of the night, hundreds of runners still achieved their personal best (PR) goals at the VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight. According to statistics from Vietnam Best Marathon, 96 athletes achieved new PRs in the under-4-hour time category alone. Among them, Huynh Anh Khoi, the top 3 overall finisher, set a PR of 2:42:42, and Hoang Van Hon (2:44:14) entered the top 60 fastest marathon runners in Vietnam of all time.

In the women's category, the most notable personal bests were Tra Giang (3:12:22) and Nguyen Thi Ngot (3:16:13). With their speed and ability steadily improving, Tra Giang and Nguyen Thi Ngot have great potential to become strong contenders for championships in future races.

Following the VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight, the next race in the series will take place in Hue on April 21st. This marks the 4th time the VnExpress Marathon has come to the ancient capital of Hue. The event is expected to attract 11,000 participants. The race route has been modified but retains its characteristic lush greenery, allowing athletes to explore both the ancient and modern beauty of Hue city.

Hoai Phuong

Source link