Heated showdown between Vietnamese, American runners at VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong

The 21 km distance of the VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong began at 4 a.m. on Dec. 15. Hang, a top contender at the starting line, faced a surprising challenge from Connarcher, a 33-year-old American runner with a personal best of 2 hours and 43 minutes for a full marathon.

From the start, Connarcher surged forward, quickly separating herself from the pack and leaving Hang to chase. Despite running in Vietnam for the first time, without familiarity with the weather or terrain, the American displayed the poise and power of an experienced marathoner.

"I saw a foreign runner with an impressive pace passing by. I had to push hard to keep up. One of my teammates dropped out at the 10 km mark after trying to stay with her—what a pity," Hang said.

Doan Thu Hang (L) and Mary Brooke Connarcher running side by side at VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong. Photo by VM

For over an hour, Connarcher maintained her lead, often disappearing from the livestream as the gap widened. However, Hang, drawing on her experience in international competitions, used the small slopes strategically to close the distance.

In the final kilometer, the two runners were neck-and-neck. Hang, feeling completely spent, summoned her last reserves of energy to overtake Connarcher. She crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 19 minutes, and 3 seconds, securing the championship, with Connarcher just 7 seconds behind. Both runners stopped to shake hands and congratulate each other.

Doan Thu Hang finishesd in exhaustion, different from previous races. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

"She was incredibly fast—I thought I wouldn’t make it. For the first time in Vietnam, I encountered someone who maintained such speed from start to finish," Hang said, sitting at the finish line, gasping to recover.

Mary, modest about her performance, laughed off Hang’s praise. She credited her steady pace to the race’s favorable conditions. Despite holding a sub-2:43 marathon time—considered modest in the U.S.—Connarcher admitted she was surprised at her strong showing in Vietnam.

Doan Thu Hang shakes hands with her opponent Mary Brooke Connarcher. Photo by VM

A first-time experience in Vietnam

This was Connarcher’s first race in Vietnam. Jet-lagged and unable to sleep the night before, she relied on two cups of Vietnamese black coffee for alertness. "Vietnamese coffee is strong—almost too strong—but it worked perfectly for me," she laughed.

She praised the VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong for its exceptional organization. "The smooth road surface, beautiful scenery, and cool weather made the experience fantastic. The lighting along the track was impressive, ensuring safety throughout the race," she said.

Having participated in several international marathons, Connarcher noted that poor lighting during early starts is a common challenge. However, at VM Hai Phong, she could clearly see the route, signage, and fellow runners.

Mary Brooke Connarcher at VM Hai Phong. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Connarcher revealed that she runs 150-200 km per week in Bali, her regular training routine, and fuels her runs with favorite carb-heavy foods like spaghetti, rice, and pastries.

"In the U.S., many people run much faster than me. I’m not a professional—I just run for fun. But if I get the chance to return and race again, I’d be thrilled to compete with my friends," Mary said.

The VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong 2024 ended with 90 runners achieving sub-3 finishes in the 42 km distance (preliminary results). With its flat track and cool temperatures ranging between 12-15 degrees Celsius, the race provided ideal conditions for runners to improve their personal bests.

VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong partnered with Herbalife Vietnam, a long-time supporter of Vietnamese sports. Since its entry into Vietnam in 2009, Herbalife has collaborated extensively with organizations such as the Vietnam Olympic Committee, the Vietnam Paralympic Committee, and the Vietnam Football Federation.