The first runners to own 7 slots for VnExpress Marathon 2024

Hundreds of runners chose to buy combos of many races, of which dozens of people decided to buy all 7 tickets to participate in the VnExpress Marathon 2024, after three days of opening for sale.

Vo Trung Tin, 40 years old, is one of the first runners to register for all VnExpress Marathon tournaments in 2024 including Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Quy Nhon, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Ha Long, Hai Phong. All are 21km distances. The runner from Phu Yen said that he has a special love for VnExpress Marathon tournaments so he registered "without thinking" as soon as the organizers announced the 2024 event series.

"Last year I ran all the VnExpress races, without setting any achievement goals. Each race left me with very different emotions. When I finished all 7 races, I felt like a champion, very happy. This year I want to conquer this feeling again," Mr. Tin shared.

According to this runner, VnExpress Marathon is well organized, taking good care of runners from the race-kit distribution stage until the race is completed. Each stage has a clear process. The competition is favorable for a beautiful running course, with good support, guidance, and flow. The full and impressive images of the athletes are also a plus that helps him stick with the tournament.

Runner Vo Trung Tin runs VM Nha Trang 2023. Photo: VM

"This year, the organizers are offering a combo purchase with a 25% discount. I think it's quite reasonable. In addition to running, I also plan to explore more tourist destinations and cities - something I didn't have enough time to do last year. Registering early helps me take the initiative in my schedule, book cheaper air tickets and hotel rooms," Mr. Tin added.

Similarly, Ms. Khue Nguyen, 43 years old, also decided to buy all 7 races in the year. Last season, the runner from Binh Dinh participated in the VnExpress Marathon series for the first time, starting with a 21km distance in her hometown Quy Nhon and participating in VM Hanoi Midnight and VM Hai Phong twice. Ms. Khue's initial plan for 2024 was to conquer 42km in Quy Nhon, visiting three new localities: Hue, Da Nang and Ha Long. "When the organizers opened the registration portal, I was so excited and suddenly thought that I should conquer them all, combined with experiential tourism, so I decided to register for all 7," Ms. Khue said.

In the three times she attended VnExpress Marathon, Ms. Khue was impressed with the scientifically arranged expo area, in a convenient location, with a scale of thousands of square meters. The volunteer team for each race is up to 1,000, and is assigned tasks systematically, so it provides good support even though the number of runners is always around 10,000. In addition, the female runner living in Ho Chi Minh City believes that VnExpress Marathon is one of the few races that has detailed and complete instructions and information for runners before, during and after the race. The host localities also have many incentives in terms of rooms, services, food, and transportation, making it convenient for participants to combine tourism and exploration.

In addition to amateur athletes who set a goal of running and combining it with tourism, many top runners have also secured a place to run in a combo. Among them, Bui Tuan Lam is the first outstanding runner to register for all 7 races. Tuan Lam's plan in 2024 is to hunt for PR and compete for rankings, so he carefully selected and reduced the number of races he participated in. Among them, the runner living in Ho Chi Minh City rated VnExpress Marathon as the race series with the most favorable race route to conquer a new record. The large number of water stations, detailed instructions, and clear lanes help athletes compete more confidently.

"The distance between races is from one to two months, which is quite reasonable for planning training and competition. In addition, the 25% discount when buying all 7 races is also quite economical," shared the runner who ran a full marathon in 2 hours and 48 minutes at VM Hue 2022.

Runner Bui Tuan Lam attends VM Ho Chi Minh City Midnight 2023. Photo: VM

Selling Bibs in combos is a new policy applied to the VnExpress Marathon 2024 chain. When buying Bibs in combos, the organizers apply a 5% discount for 2-prize packages; 8% discount for 3-prize packages; 12% discount for 4-prize packages; 15% discount for 5-prize packages; 20% discount for 6-prize packages and 25% discount for 7-prize packages.

Runner Pham Thi Hong Yen, 60 years old, Hanoi, said that the policy of buying Bib in combos makes it convenient for athletes to plan, choose their favorite locations and buy tickets at a reasonable price. Ms. Yen was also one of the first people to buy all 7 runs, all at a distance of 21km. "At first, I didn't plan to participate in that many. But seeing the reasonable discount, I decided to run in all 7 locations, both for tourism and experience, and hoping to stand on the podium in the over-60 age group," Ms. Yen shared.

VnExpress Marathon kicks off 2024 with a night race in Ho Chi Minh City on March 3, in collaboration with strategic partner VPBank. Registration opens from the afternoon of January 2 and closes on February 22 or when there are enough participants, to ensure the safety of the athletes and their belongings. Previously, on February 6, the Organizing Committee closed the information editing portal. The expected size of the tournament is 11,000 athletes.

Hoai Phuong

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