Small village, my house is there, runner ran past...

I have read many articles and comments on social networking sites when the race of more than 7,000 athletes in the Tien Phong Marathon 2025 just ended. The articles boasted: runners ran past my house, the whole neighborhood came out to cheer the athletes, welcomed runners to their homes for free, small businesses stopped selling and brought flags out to cheer...

I have also seen countless images and clips of people filming the scene of people giving water, shouting, hugging the runners as they passed by. And there was a comment that made me tear up: Since the re-establishment of the province, this is the first time such a grand and professional race has come to Quang Tri.

Small village, my house is there, runner ran past... photo 1

Quang Tri people welcome and cheer the athletes. Photo: Organizing Committee.

Joy, pride and emotion were mixed when the images of each road, rice field, bridge and the sincerity of the people of the land of fire were discovered and spread by the runners. Surely the moments in Quang Tri will follow their steps to everywhere.

But for me, a son of Quang Tri, and an athlete in this 66-year-old race, I think Quang Tri has gained more than that. The first thing that has been gained is that the people have broadened their horizons, witnessed a large-scale race right in their homeland, and no longer just marveled at it on TV or in big cities. The old men and women were wide-eyed, “Where are these people with so many people?”. But in reality, they have returned to their homeland.

The people of the land of fire witnessed the spirit of sportsmanship, integration, and openness of people from all over. Witnessed how dynamic, civilized, and modern they were. For the first time, they saw cosplayers on the racetrack, including No Face, Tang Monk and his disciples, the guerrilla girl, the Westerner playing the flute…. And even the superman with cramps that made the whole province laugh heartily for days.

Small village, my house is there, runner ran past... photo 2

Runners' running route along Hieu River.

Another thing is to broaden people's minds so that they can accept strange and different things more easily. For example, going from two ends of the country, spending a lot of money just to run in one morning and then return, for many people it is a waste, even crazy. However, when witnessing the runners' running steps, the fiery spirit on the race track, the pictures of runners cutting through the night and crossing each beautiful road along the Hieu River, people realize that money is sometimes nothing. Looking at the athletes, we can see that they are truly "living" and not just existing. And who knows, these running steps will be a cool breeze blowing people's thoughts, so that in the hustle and bustle of making a living, they still set aside a corner to "live" for themselves. Because after all, everyone in this life needs joy.

And once thinking about better, bigger things, people are also generous and easily forgive each other to make things easier.

The small village where my house is, the runners ran past. From dawn, the children followed their parents out onto the street waving flags to cheer, watching the line of people stretching for kilometers following each other. I heard somewhere the mother’s voice telling her child: “Eat a lot to grow up quickly to run like the aunts and uncles!”. It is not only a story about running on the track, but also conveying to the eyes, souls, and wills of the children about the running path in this life. If you train and are determined, dare to step through your own door, then the distance of each person will not be just 5, 10, or 21, 42km anymore.

Small village, my house is there, runner ran past... photo 3

The image of a child running after an athlete is touching.

In this Tien Phong Marathon, there are thousands of athletes in Quang Tri participating. I saw many familiar faces at the starting line, on the running track and at the finish line. The footsteps of Quang Tri people are running with people across the country, joining the era of striving and dynamism. Hopefully Quang Tri will continue to build its image, strive to develop, each person is always aware of living and contributing to the homeland so that the land of fire in the eyes of friends from all over the world will not only have bombs and cemeteries but will change and become more beautiful every day. Above all, there will be races and big events coming to the land of the parallel so that people who have suffered painful separation for generations can enjoy joy and much more.