VnExpress Marathon includes international runners in the selection system

Foreign runners running sub2:30 are classified as professional, upgrading the elite reception table are notable changes applied from VM Quy Nhon (June 11).

The VnExpress Marathon system in 2023 attracted many foreign athletes to participate. The two most recent races, VM Ho Chi Minh City Midnight and VM Hue, had more than 300 international runners. Among them, many faces came from running powerhouses such as Kenya and Ethiopia with impressive records. Notably, Ezikiel Kemboi - a Kenyan runner won the Ho Chi Minh City night race with a time of 2 hours 30 minutes. This is not the best result because Ezikiel once ran 2 hours 8 minutes in an event in Poland.

Foreign runners with a time of under 2 hours 30 minutes like Ezikiel, or under 2 hours 50 minutes for women, will be counted as professional athletes from VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon 2023. In addition to foreign athletes, the organizing committee also stipulates other cases that are counted as professional athletes, including athletes who are members of the National team, provincial, city, industry teams, or receive support and salary from any professional sports team or club in Vietnam. Runners who used to be in the professional system and have just retired within three years from the official competition date are still counted in this category.

Ha Thi Hau and the Kenyan runner created a dramatic chase to count the final kilometers at VM Ho Chi Minh City Midnight. Photo: VM — Ha Thi Hau (running behind) and the Kenyan runner created a dramatic chase to count the final kilometers at VM Ho Chi Minh City Midnight. Photo: VM

Another notable change is the separate hydration table for elite runners (seeds) with full water, electrolytes, fruits, etc. The support that has been available for many previous races has been upgraded to help high-performance athletes confidently conquer their goals with the best physical condition and support. The elite hydration table is only for runners running before the 3:30 mark in full marathons and 1:45 mark in half marathons. The area will be closed or refused to serve athletes running slower than this group.

Athletes are not allowed to receive support from outside, except from the official stations of the organizing committee (water and medical), from other runners on the course, medical staff or in case of emergency. In addition, other support stations (water, medical, sanitation) will stop operating according to the schedule of the organizing committee's closure of the course.

Runner splashes water while running in the hot sun. Photo: VM

The new competition regulations of VnExpress Marathon also stipulate more clearly the valid age of competition . Accordingly, athletes can only choose one distance to compete and must meet the age requirements, with the distance of 42km from 18 years old and above, 21km from 16 years old and above and 10km from 12 years old and above. Age is calculated on the official competition day of the tournament. In addition, buying and selling or transferring Bibs outside the time allowed by the organizing committee is prohibited, and competition results will not be recorded.

With cut of time (COT) time limits, the Organizing Committee sets up signs on the track, according to the prescribed number of kilometers. Athletes must pass the kilometer marks before the COT, otherwise they will be marked as disqualified and their results will be canceled.

Athletes running on Thi Nai bridge, welcoming the sunrise. Photo: VM

VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon is the third tournament of VnExpress Marathon this year, starting on June 11. With 10,000 runners, the tournament has become a major cultural and sports event of Binh Dinh province. Runners can explore famous routes in the coastal city, challenge themselves with a sunny, windy, and steep race. For the first time in the system, 21km runners will receive a finisher hat after finishing, 42km runners will receive finisher pants.

A new activity on this occasion is VM Sharing - a program to collect donations in collaboration with the Binh Dinh Red Cross. The organizers call on runners to donate used items such as shirts, pants, and running shoes at the booth inside the Expo area. The Red Cross will sort, clean, and plan to give them to the needy in poor districts such as Van Canh, An Lao, etc.

Hoai Phuong

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