Runners and Travelers

Nguyen Minh Phat (Ben Tre) decided to spend the whole summer participating in running races, combining it with traveling with friends. VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon on June 11 was the opening race.

Having started running 14 months ago, Nguyen Minh Phat has participated in 17 races in 17 provinces and cities across the country. In each race, he competes with all his might and spends many days exploring the culture, cuisine and people of the place he visits. Phat said that he has a passion for traveling and is "addicted" to running, so he often combines the two, creating interesting experiences.

This summer, Minh Phat will participate in three races in the VnExpress Marathon system: Quy Nhon (June 11), Nha Trang (August 13) and Ha Long (September 10).

Binh Dinh is a land he has never been to, so on the occasion of VM Quy Nhon, Phat plans to stay for 4 days, go swimming, visit the famous Cham tower in the land of martial arts. Then set foot in Phu Yen, visit Xuan Dai bay, Song Cau town...

As for the VnExpress Marathon Nha Trang, Phat conquered it last August. Because he was so impressed with the route on Luong Son Pass, he wanted to watch the sunrise on the race track, so he decided to come back here. The places he visited were all the most vibrant coastal cities in Vietnam with beautiful, majestic landscapes. "I spent this summer participating in the marathon combined with traveling, exploring the seas and the culture of the people," said Phat.

Minh Phat on the VM Ho Chi Minh City Midnight 2023 racetrack. Photo: VM

As a professional backpacker, wishing to "bring his youth to check-in across the country", Minh Phat does not place much importance on achievement. When participating in the tournament, his priority is simply to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of the tournament, experience tourism and local culture, immerse himself in the natural scenery and surpass himself on the race track.

"The best thing about running is the challenging routes. It's not just about driving through and stopping to admire the scenery and take pictures. I explore the route with my feet, my strength and my will. That's the most meaningful thing," the male runner said. For him, the medal is proof, marking his presence in new lands. It is also an item that proves his strong spirit and the courage to overcome difficulties to reach the finish line amidst the cheers of his friends.

Participating in races, the young man from the West also met and interacted with runners from all over the country. Currently, he is part of a community of nearly 200 members, who are runners who share a passion for sports tourism.

Also passionate about running and traveling, this summer, Ms. To Quyen (Hanoi) will go to Quy Nhon with her family to participate in the VnExpress Marathon. Ms. Quyen and her husband will run the 10km distance, while their two children will conquer the Kun Marathon.

"Instead of traveling like previous years, this year my family combined it with running. The trip is a gift for my two children after a year of school," said Ms. Quyen. According to Ms. Quyen, sports tourism is not simply about traveling and seeing beautiful scenery, it is an effective way to educate children about the importance of exercise for physical and mental health.

After VM Quy Nhon, she plans to participate in VM Nha Trang, taking advantage of her two children's last summer vacation to explore this beautiful coastal city and create memorable moments together.

The coastal running route is an attractive destination for runners coming to VM Quy Nhon. Photo: VM

In February this year, runner Nguyen Ngoc Long (28 years old) used an electric motorbike to travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to run the VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight 2023. In 14 days, Long passed through a total of 21 provinces and cities. The trip helped Long broaden his horizons, allowing him to see the beauty of Vietnam from North to South.

At VnExpress Marathon Hue, on April 16, on a cycling trip from Lung Cu (Ha Giang) to Ho Chi Minh City, Tran Viet Duong (27 years old) stopped in Hue to participate in the 21 km race and stayed there for three days, exploring the ancient capital. This trip gave Duong more experiences, meeting runners with strong will. "I learned a lot from such trips and races," Duong said.

Sports tourism has recently become a trend, attracting the attention of many people in the runner community. At the Vietnam Sports Economic Forum 2023 held on June 3, Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung - General Secretary of the Vietnam Athletics Federation said that in Vietnam, there are currently about 50 marathon and half-marathon competitions each year. Many runners choose beautiful locations to both travel and compete. Many localities consider marathons as an event to promote tourism, especially attracting international visitors.

Runner crosses Phuong Mai sand dunes at VM Quy Nhon. Photo: VM

With VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh province's leaders consider this an important annual sea sports event. "We are very interested in developing new tourism products with potential such as sports tourism, traditional martial arts, golf, cross-country running, beach volleyball... VnExpress Marathon is the biggest effort in promoting coastal sports", according to Mr. Lam Hai Giang, Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh province.

VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon 2023 takes place on June 11. The tournament is expected to create a vibrant sporting atmosphere, attracting tens of thousands of tourists to Quy Nhon, combining sports with sea tourism. Quy Nhon City has prepared many plans to welcome athletes, including preferential accommodation, food and transportation services.

Thanh Lan

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/nhung-nguoi-chay-bo-ket-hop-du-lich-4612218.html