11 year dream come true
Recently, the Vietnam Athletics Federation and the Organizing Committee of the Vietnam International Half Marathon decided to include the walking event in the competition that will take place on January 1, 2024 in Hanoi . This is the first time the walking event has become a competition category in the marathon event that is currently booming in Vietnam. Few people know that the person who proposed this bold idea is a girl nicknamed "Vietnam's walking queen" Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc, who has been involved in the walking event for 20 years, won the national championship 17 times, and won the SEA Games 5 times.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc (2nd from left) inspires the sport of walking
Yesterday (November 29), sharing about the idea of organizing a walking race for the community to participate, Thanh Phuc said: "The first time I participated in the 2012 Asian Walking Race in Japan, I saw that they organized a walking race for students as well as a mass movement race with a lot of participants. At that time, the thought popped into my head that I wished we could do the same in Vietnam. I have cherished this dream for the past 11 years and told myself that I have to be a pioneer, have to contribute, prove the benefits that walking brings to be able to spread to the community. After a long time of spreading, now I am confident to realize the dream that I have cherished for so long and am very happy that everyone is responding."
Jogging to "entice" participants to walk
Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc said that in her journey to spread and connect the walking community, in addition to actively guiding new players, she also proactively participates in running races and community events to "entice" people to switch to walking.
"I invited my younger brother, who is also a walker, Nguyen Thanh Ngung, to join the connection. I also received full support from my brothers, sisters, and familiar groups. To make the journey to complete the goal easier, I myself also ventured into running for more than 5 months to experience and call on everyone to try walking. Any runner who "slips up" will be lured into walking by me. I want the walking movement to develop more and more vigorously like running today," Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc excitedly said.
Surprised with the first results
Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc enthusiastically talked about the optimistic signs of the walking sport movement in Vietnam. "I believe the movement will spread strongly in the near future, because I directly train many amateur walking athletes and receive feedback from them that they really like it! If the players are trained with the right techniques, I think this is a sport suitable for many ages, both old and young, men and women. Currently, a 70-year-old athlete contacted me for support with walking exercises and there are 200 athletes of many ages registered to participate in the walking event on January 1, 2024. Many people think that walking is a somewhat feminine sport and it will be difficult to mobilize men to participate, but surprisingly, out of the 200 athletes registered to compete now, there are more men than women," Thanh Phuc confided.
The Queen of Walking Vietnam said that the most important thing for the walking community now is how to walk properly to stay healthy. "In the past, I have been guiding many walking clubs, and wherever I went, they were very happy and excited when I shared my expertise and experience. Many of them then regularly sent me videos for me to review their training sessions and give me further advice. I am very happy to receive such sharing and feedback," Thanh Phuc said.
"Elixir" from walking
Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc confided that in more than 20 years of walking, she has not suffered any injuries due to proper training. There was a time when she gained 82 kg during her maternity leave but then lost 48 kg, returning to the top of the competition thanks to walking. In addition, walking also helps her avoid minor illnesses, has a flexible body, a refreshing spirit, and abundant energy to work effectively.
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