Ethiopian athlete regrets after first prize at VnExpress Marathon

Binh Dinh's Abraham Getahun regretted losing the championship position in the 21km distance, but was still happy to win his first international award, at VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon, on the morning of June 11.

Abraham had an impressive race, leading the 21km distance throughout the first half of the race. He was enthusiastically cheered by spectators and runners at the event from the start until crossing Thi Nai Bridge. True to the spirit of a first-time international competitor, Abraham ran with all his might.

Immediately after starting at 4am, Abraham impressed the audience watching via livestream with his strong running steps, separating from the top at a pace of 3:00. After 25 minutes, he reached Thi Nai Bridge, running smoothly even when going up the bridge, leaving the group behind far behind. At this time, he was predicted to be the number one candidate for the half marathon championship.

However, a surprise happened in the second half of the race, when athlete Nguyen Quoc Anh, 21 years old, came from behind to surpass Abraham to finish first in 1 hour and 14 minutes. Quoc Anh himself also said that he was lucky because his Kenyan opponent was too excited.

Improper energy distribution strategy and lack of experience running in Vietnam caused the Ethiopian athlete to gradually fall behind. After 1 hour and 17 minutes, Abraham finished the VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon in third place.

"I'm quite sad because I didn't achieve my dream of winning the championship. However, the atmosphere of the race was great and this first prize is a great encouragement for me," he shared.

Abraham Getahun at the finish line of the 21km race on the morning of June 11. Photo: VM — Abraham Getahun smiled brightly as he finished the 21km race on the morning of June 11. Photo: VM

There were many reasons why Abraham did not achieve his original goal. He had just arrived in Quy Nhon on the evening of June 10 after a long flight from Ethiopia to Hanoi. The rush of time combined with constant traveling caused him to lack sleep and not have time to adapt to the local weather.

The weather in Quy Nhon is considered to be cooler than previous years, favorable for athletes to compete. However, the temperature in Ethiopia, Abraham's homeland, is only about 16 degrees Celsius. Although the organizers have arranged many water and cooling stations along the way, Abraham said that the weather was something he did not expect when competing abroad for the first time. In addition, strong winds also caused difficulties, especially the section across Thi Nai Bridge.

Abraham Getahun leads in the first few kilometres of the race. Photo: VM

This year, the 21km distance had many changes in the route. Runners did not run along Xuan Dieu beach but turned towards Nguyen Tat Thanh, went up Thi Nai bridge, then ran a section on Phuong Mai peninsula to experience part of the sand dunes. After the first 10km, Abraham's shoulder suddenly hurt, affecting both his physical and mental health.

"I learned a lot of experience. After the race, I will return home to train harder to achieve better results in the future," Abraham said.

Abraham said that in the next 1-2 years, he will quit his job and focus entirely on running. He wants to go further to the national Olympic team and world marathons. With VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon, Abraham was surprised by the scale of 10,000 runners, professional organization, and race-kit with many items.

"Vietnamese people are kind and friendly. I thank Vietnam for being the first country to welcome me and give me the opportunity to show my ability," he said. Abraham will enjoy two more days in Quy Nhon to explore the beautiful scenery and local cuisine. After that, he flies to Thailand to participate in another race.

Abraham Getahun shows off his achievements at VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon 2023. Photo: Anh Ngoc — Abraham Getahun shows off his achievements at VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon 2023. Photo: *Anh Ngoc*

VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon 2023 attracted about 150 foreign athletes. Kenyan runner Shelith Nyawira Muriuki became the champion of the women's full marathon category with a time of 2 hours 47 minutes 47 seconds.

Mr. Ngoc