Runner Dan Quyet and his special relationship with Tien Phong's signature running routes

TPO - Not coming from a high-performance sports system, but with a strong will and rare perseverance, Dang Anh Quyet (Dan Quyet) has built a solid position in the Vietnamese running community. After a series of impressive achievements both domestically and internationally, the 35-year-old runner is aiming for Tien Phong Half Marathon with the determination to assert himself in the playground that bears the historical mark of Vietnamese athletics.

Amateur runner reaches international level

Coming to jogging from the afternoons in the park, where his steps were still awkward and his breathing was still rapid with each short run, few people imagined that the electromechanical engineer Dan Quyet would one day become one of the most prominent faces of the Vietnamese marathon movement.

Without a proper curriculum, without a coach, without long training trips like a professional runner, he learned by observing his predecessors, reading books, studying body mechanics and experiencing directly with each step he took. Each tournament to him was not just a competition, but also the biggest, most rigorous gym, but also the place where he found the most obvious maturity of himself.

Thanks to that perseverance, Dan Quyet gradually overcame his initial limitations to reach milestones that few amateur runners reach. From 10 km, to half marathon, then full marathon and even challenging ultra distances, he did not run to beat others; he ran to be better tomorrow than today.

That journey brought him to achievements that made the community admire: top runners running the fastest 100km ultra in Vietnam with a time of 8 hours 02 minutes 42 seconds; participating in about dozens of races each year - a competition density that makes even many professional runners wary; and many times reaching sub-2:40 in marathons.

The most memorable milestone is the Chicago Marathon 2024 when he completed 42.195km with a time of 2 hours 33 minutes 57 seconds - an achievement considered the pride of Vietnamese amateur runners in the Big Six system.

That was not only Dan Quyet's best personal achievement at that time, but also an affirmation: with enough passion and long enough perseverance, a runner from the movement can completely approach the elite level.

Entering 2025, when the competition schedule is tight, Dan Quyet still maintains an amazingly stable performance. From Ho Chi Minh City Night Marathon to VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon or Da Nang, from Nha Trang to Hanoi , he is always present with the image of a runner who fights constantly, resiliently and decisively.

In just one week, he broke his own record twice: 2:33:44 at Ha Long Heritage Marathon, then 2:33:18 at Hanoi Night Run – living proof that age cannot hold back the steps of a passionate heart.

Special relationship with Tien Phong newspaper 's races

Dan Quyet has a special relationship with the National Marathon Championship and the long-distance race of Tien Phong newspaper, a competition he participated in since the first year it opened to amateur runners (2017). Notably, he is the only amateur runner who has always stood on the medal podium in all the seasons he participated.

Now, when Tien Phong Half Marathon, a new race launched by Tien Phong newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City, Dan Quyet's return brings with it many expectations. He is a strong candidate for the championship, but what makes the community more excited is the strong spirit, positive energy and pure passion that he brings to the race. In every step of this 35-year-old man, people see the determination of a warrior, the simplicity of a runner and the perseverance of a heart that never stops pursuing passion.

His journey is a reminder that extraordinary things sometimes come from brave people starting from the most ordinary things. Tien Phong Half Marathon is not just a new race. With the participation of Dan Quyet, it is also where an icon of Vietnamese running continues to write his inspirational story – a story of determination, passion and the desire to constantly surpass oneself.

“Tien Phong Marathon is the oldest tournament in Vietnam, with an extremely professional organization. This is a playground for amateur athletes to compete with top professional runners. I am really excited to participate in a completely new race organized by Tien Phong newspaper ,” the young man born in 1990 shared.

The year 2025 witnessed a special moment in his career when the Vietnam Athletics Federation awarded him a place to participate in the 2025 Asian Marathon Championship in Zhejiang. For the first time, a runner who came from the grassroots movement had the opportunity to wear the national team jersey to compete in a continental playground. This was not only a personal pride but also a milestone marking the strong growth of the Vietnamese running movement. In addition, he continued to be honored by the Ho Chi Minh City Athletics Federation as "Best Amateur Athlete of the Year" for the second consecutive time - a worthy reward for his persistent efforts and positive influence.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/runner-dan-quyet-va-moi-duyen-dac-biet-voi-nhung-duong-chay-mang-dau-an-tien-phong-post1801213.tpo