Wind-hiding tactics of the new champion of VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon

Running in the wind among the leading group for almost the entire race, Pham Ngoc Phan saved his energy to surpass in the final kilometers, winning the VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon 2023.

The race on the morning of June 11 in Quy Nhon witnessed an impressive finish between Le Van Tuan - the reigning champion and Pham Ngoc Phan. The two athletes competed for every meter, blocking the opponent from passing. As a result, Ngoc Phan finished first, only a few seconds faster than Van Tuan.

Pham Ngoc Phan is a strange bird in this year's Quy Nhon tournament. Photo: VM — Pham Ngoc Phan crosses the finish line. Photo: VM

The runner of Binh Thuan team was overwhelmed with emotion when he won the VnExpress Marathon for the first time, surpassing strong opponents and thought he would have to finish second like in the last 2 tournaments. He said he had put in 200% of his strength and spirit to achieve this result. The unusually strong wind was an obstacle for the athletes. Therefore, he applied the tactic of hiding from the wind right from the start, running only in the leading group, trying not to be left too far behind. This is the experience he has drawn after 8 years of running professionally for Binh Thuan team.

This victory not only helped Ngoc Phan put his name on the list of VnExpress Marathon champions but also created a psychological premise for the upcoming tournament he will attend in Thailand.

Le Van Tuan (91059) ran ahead, blocking the wind for Pham Ngoc Phan on Thi Nai bridge.

Having started marathoning later than most of his friends, Ngoc Phan said he had to be persistent and practice regularly to avoid injuries and maintain his form. "I'm on a training schedule, but if I take just 1-2 breaks, I can tear my muscles when I practice again. When I'm injured, I can't do anything and my form can easily decline," said the champion.

Admitting that Quy Nhon's weather is similar to Binh Thuan's, it is an advantage for the male runner, so he did not spend much time training and preparing for the VnExpress Marathon. However, Ngoc Phan is very concerned about his diet. He regularly adds fruit and absolutely does not use mixed drinks in the days before the race.

Ngoc Phan started running in 8th grade and received professional training at the age of 20 at Binh Thuan Athletics. At that time, he was studying at Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports. This runner's strengths are the 5km, 10km and 21km distances. In the past year, Ngoc Phan has started participating in full marathons and this is his 3rd race, and also his first championship after defeating 4 formidable opponents: Nguyen Van Long, Le Van Tuan, Ly Phi Hai and Truong Van Tam.

"The coaches saw that I had potential in long distances so they oriented me towards 21 and 42km to compete for medals. In the last meters, I kept looking back to see how far Le Van Tuan was. I was lucky and happy to become the new champion of the tournament.

Training and competing for a locality with a weak running movement like Binh Thuan, Ngoc Phan was not discouraged. He decided to stay in his hometown, not choosing another team to develop himself. This year, Pham Ngoc Phan plans to participate in some international tournaments to test himself. VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon 2023 is a test for him to confidently conquer new challenges.

Thanh Thu