Foreign runners praise VnExpress Marathon Hue 2024's route

At 4:45 a.m. on Sunday, Brouwer started to conquer the 10-kilometer distance at the VnExpress Marathon Hue 2024.

This was the fifth time he competed in this distance, but the results were not as expected.

However, the 61-year-old runner is still very proud of himself for completing the difficult run in such hot weather conditions.

Rob Brouwer shows off his medal after completing the 10-kilometer distance at VM Hue 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Bao Tran

When Brouwer learned about the competition, he praised the Hue running route as beautiful, flat, easy to get PR, and had high expectations for this year's run.

However, the weather on the morning of the race was quite hot. The sun rose earlier than 5 a.m., causing many runners to quickly lose strength due to excessive sweating, including Brouwer.

He decided to finish early, accelerating by taking longer strides. He completed the 10km with a time of 56 minutes and 28 seconds, finishing fourth in the group of runners over 60 years old.

Last month, Brouwer just conquered the Ho Chi Minh City night running race with a distance of 10km.

Rob Brouwer at the VPBank VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight 2024 in March. Photo by VM

Next June, he will come to VM Quy Nhon.

At the Quy Nhon 2023 tournament, he liked it because not only was the landscape beautiful, but everywhere he went he met "colleagues."

Besides Brouwer, two other foreign runners also had good impressions and memories of this year's Hue running race, even though their results were not quite as expected.

Miao Yun Chao, 37, from China, currently living and working in Hanoi, participated in the VnExpress Marathon in Hue for the second time.

Yun Chao loves the antiquity, cuisine, culture, and architecture of the ancient capital.

Miao Yun Chao on the 42-kilometer run at the VnExpress Marathon Imperial Hue 2023. Photo by VM

Last year, he came to Hue four times, one to participate in the marathon, but he still didn't get bored.

Yun Chao ran the full marathon last year, but the results were not as expected, so this year he only registered for half.

He completed the half-marathon in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 14 seconds.

Another fan of VM Hue 2024 is Russian runner Rustam Bzhekshiev, who completed the half marathon distance in only 1 hour, 25 minutes, and 33 seconds, one of the top 3 males in this category.

This was the first marathon he participated in Vietnam. Previously, Rustam only attended trail running tournaments such as Da Lat, Moc Chau... He was always among the top athletes.

Rustam Bzhekshiev shows off his medal when completing the VM Hue 2024 half-marathon on April 21. Photo by VnExpress/Bao Tran

Rustam said VM Hue 2024 has done well in organization, security, and professional track design.

Because it was his first marathon, it left him with a really deep impression. The beautiful medal is also a plus point that makes him plan to return to Hue next year.

VnExpress Marathon Hue 2024 kicked off on April 21, with the participation of 8,000 runners.

This is the first year that all four distances went through ancient, historical roads around the Hue capital area, such as Yet Kieu, Dang Thai Than, and Doan Thi Diem, from the first kilometers.

After Hue, the VnExpress Marathon will continue in Quy Nhon (June), Da Nang (July), Nha Trang (August), Ha Long (September), Hanoi (November), and Hai Phong (December). See further information and buy Bib here.