Hai Phong leader wants to make VnExpress Marathon annual event

By Le Tan December 18, 2023 | 03:24 am PT

After running the 10 kilometer distance at VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong, the city's Party Secretary Le Tien Chau proposed to organize the race anually.

Chau was present at Dragon Hill-Do Son International Tourist Area at 5 a.m. on Sunday to participate in the VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong race.

Together with Nguyen Van Tung, Chairman of Hai Phong People's Committee; Nguyen Van Lap, Chairman of the City People's Council, and many leaders of departments of Hai Phong, Chau registered to run the 10 km distance. He completed the race in 1 hour and 6 minutes.

Le Tien Chau, Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee (4th, R), and Nguyen Van Tung (3rd, R), Chairman of the City Peoples Committee, started at a distance of 10 km. Photo by Le Tan

Le Tien Chau (4th, R), Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, and Nguyen Van Tung (3rd, R), Chairman of the City People's Committee, start at VM Hai Phong. Photo by Le Tan

Passionate about running, Chau regularly participates in tournaments and is planning to practice to run 21 km next year. To him, running is one of the sports that attracts the most people to participate, bringing many benefits to physical and mental health.

"For Hai Phong, the VnExpress Marathon is also an opportunity to stimulate tourism and promote its image. It is necessary to turn VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong into an annual tournament. Besides Do Son, Hai Phong has many beautiful and convenient locations for running. We should do research or organizing the race in the following years," Chau said after the event.

Secretary of Hai Phong City Party Committee Le Tien Chau (Bib 69011) ran to promote sports practice habits. Photo by VM

Secretary of Hai Phong City Party Committee Le Tien Chau (Bib 69011) runs at VM Hai Phong. Photo by VM

Chau also highly appreciated the preparation work, organization of the running track, logistics, and coordination of the organizers and VnExpress newspaper with Hai Phong City to make the tournament a success.

In its first edition in Hai Phong, the VnExpress Marathon attracted 11,000 runners. It was the last of seven tournaments in 2023 and also the last major marathon of the year nationwide.

Featuring a straight, flat track and favorable weather, the 2023 VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong witnessed a record number of athletes achieving high results in sub3 and sub3:30 (running under 3 hours and 30 minutes). Full marathon champion Hua Thuan Long also set his own personal record and achieved the best performance among non-professional runners ever.

The tournament was also an opportunity to stimulate tourism in the low season, bringing thousands of people to Hai Phong and Do Son at the end of the year. They could experience beautiful running routes passing through historical buildings and landscapes, as well as the food tour specialty of the port city.