63-year-old tailor runs sub3:20 at VnExpress Marathon Ha Long

Mr. Nguyen Van Ket finished the 42km distance at VM Ha Long 2023 after 3 hours and 18 minutes, becoming one of the fastest U70 runners in Vietnam.

Before the start of VM Ha Long 2023, Mr. Ket, 63 years old, stood with his arm around and talked to a few familiar runners at the starting line. Many runners admired the old man with gray hair and a thin body but running 42 km, gave him a lot of encouragement. Mr. Ket then warmly responded to everyone's feelings and promised to prove it with his performance on the race track.

The starting signal sounded, Mr. Ket ran quickly forward, actively chasing Vo Kinh - a famous U70 runner from Binh Duong. Vo Kinh is a familiar face, participating in all VnExpress Marathon competitions in 2023. His best achievement of the year was 3 hours and 18 minutes in Ho Chi Minh City at the beginning of the year. Mr. Kinh himself did not think that the competition in Ha Long would have such a fierce opponent.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ket - Bib 91513, chasing Vo Kinh running right in front. Photo: VM

Mr. Ket almost always followed Vo Kinh with decisive, strong strides. The two runners ran at an average pace of 4:45. Mr. Ket's pursuit seemed to give the other runner more motivation. The image of the two old men following each other on the racetrack made many runners who witnessed it excited, cheering and high-fiving.

Mr. Ket said he did not set a goal of winning the age group but wanted to explore his own limits so he chose to run with Vo Kinh. Being used to running on steep hills in Ha Giang, the 63-year-old runner did not encounter many difficulties when crossing Bai Chay Bridge. The rain on the morning of September 10 also added energy to help him run more fiercely. However, he could not surpass his opponent because it was difficult to accelerate in the final stretch. As a result, Mr. Ket finished after 3 hours and 18 minutes, taking second place in the over-60 age group, while Vo Kinh finished with a time of 3 hours and 17 minutes.

"Today's race result is a masterpiece. This is a great achievement for me because the running course was beautiful, the water supply was good, and the weather was favorable. If I hadn't tried running, I probably wouldn't have had such beautiful moments," the runner from Ha Giang said after achieving a rare achievement that is rare for people in their 70s.

Mr. Ket at the end, preparing to reach the finish line. Photo: VM

Mr. Nguyen Van Ket is a tailor in Ha Giang. 14 years ago, he started running because he felt his body was getting weaker as he approached 50 years old. He happened to read an article about a man who discovered cancer cells. This man then started running to improve his health, and was later diagnosed with cancer cells that had disappeared. The article was the motivation for Mr. Ket to start running.

At that time, not many people pursued this sport. Mr. Ket only dared to run in the stadium because he was embarrassed. "I didn't dare run on the street because I was shy. The first few days, after running a few laps around the stadium, my stomach felt hot. Luckily, my body adapted quickly so I could run easily," the runner born in 1960 shared.

After a week of running, Mr. Ket tried 5 km and saw a positive response from his body. From then on, he regularly maintained the habit of exercising for two hours every morning. When his speed improved, he was no longer afraid. The 63-year-old runner switched to running on routes in Ha Giang city. The training distance gradually increased. After three months, he could run 21 km. A year later, he successfully conquered 42 km with a time of 3 hours and 43 minutes.

The image of Mr. Ket with his silver hair and skinny figure running around the winding steep roads in Ha Giang has become familiar to many people. Rain or shine, he maintains without missing a single session. "Many people say I'm so skinny that I still run. I just laugh because I find running makes me healthier, more flexible and gives me more energy to pursue my work in old age. Others encourage me, high-five me when they see me," he said.

Mr. Ket has better running results than many young runners. Photo: VM

After more than 14 years of running, Mr. Ket can now run most distances at a very fast speed. He once ran 80 km in a long run nearly a year ago. The old runner admitted that he seemed to have a talent for running harder and harder. There were times when he ran dozens of kilometers without feeling tired, without needing to drink water or gel.

However, the "old man" of the Ha Giang marathon admitted that he still has some shortcomings. He has not been able to "persuade" his relatives to run like him. This is his biggest wish because according to him, running is an easy sport, and it also trains discipline and good health.

"I always want the whole family to be able to run together. As for me, I will definitely continue to pursue this sport for a long time, because according to the measurements, my physical age is only 20," Mr. Ket shared.

Hoai Phuong