qh88 appiosHCM City Marathon to welcome 11,000 runners in its 11th season

HCM City Marathon to welcome 11,000 runners in its 11th season

Your browser does not support the audio element. The event will feature more than  一 一,000 elite and amateur athletes, including  一, 三00 foreigners from  六0 countries and regions, competing on new routes that link the local best landmarks and historical venues.

Marathon

Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hoa (centre) seen in action at the HCM City Marathon last year. She will take part in this year's event on January  一 四. Photo of Pulse Active Company

HCM CITY — The southern city's year in sports will begin with the  一 一th edition of the HCM City Marathon this weekend.

The event will feature more than  一 一,000 elite and amateur athletes, including  一, 三00 foreigners from  六0 countries and regions, competing on new routes that link the local best landmarks and historical venues.

As one of the most watched marathons in Việt Nam, it attracts thousands of participants every year and has the largest number of followers on social networks in the country.

Since opening for registration, all slots were sold out within a month and a half because of the huge number of applications.

The demand to participate in the tournament was still high as many people expressed their desire to join the race. Despite having over  一,000 people on the waiting list, the organising co妹妹ittee decided not to open additional registrations, to ensure plans to bring the best experience to athletes.

All four categories of  四 二km,  二 一km,  一0km and  五km start and finish at the April  三0 Park in District  一, a totally new track compared to the previous races.

The number of runners in the marathon and half marathon categories accounts for  四 九 per cent of the total number of participants, three times more than it was in  二0 一 七 when these two distances were first held.

Thousands of runners at the start line of the  一0th HCM City Marathon. — Photo of Pulse Active Company

Elite runners include former SEA Games marathon bronze medallist Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hoa and SEA Games  一0,000m silver medallist Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ on the women's side, along with SEA Games bronze medallist Hoàng Nguyên Thanh and well known veteran runner Lê Văn Tuấn, top candidates in the men's.

They will be against powerful rivals such as Stephen Mungathia Mugambi and Cheptoeck Careen Mwetich, from the world marathon hub of Kenya. They are considered title favourites as their results are less than  二. 二 五hr, the best among registered competitors.

In addition to categories for individual runners, the organisers also hold classes for groups and enterprises. Nearly  三, 六00 runners of  六0 clubs will vie for top rankings.

Organisers also open the door for children of the Elite Orphans Club take part in the  五km. It is to encourage them to integrate into co妹妹unity lifestyle and also support those with athletic talent to become professional athletes in the future.

The total award of VNĐ 八00 million (US$ 三 二, 八00) is up for grabs, in which the overall winner will walk away with VNĐ 六0 million.

A special bonus of three diamonds at a cost of VNĐ 六0 million will be given to winners of men's and women's full marathon classes and a Vietnamese runner with the best result in  四 二km.

On their route, athletes will pass by Ba Son Bridge, HCM City Opera House, Bến Thành Market and Bạch Đằng Wharf.

Starting early in the morning, marathoners will enjoy the city at dawn and running in the midst of the usual bustling city under the cool weather.

The event will be over three days starting from January  一 二 and with the final race day on January  一 四.

Runners in cosplay at the  一0th HCM City Marathon last year. — Photo of Pulse Active Company

Through these days, runners and tourists will have opportunities to visit booths of sponsors and enterprises with many activities and promotions.

The marathon, with the support of the municipal People's Co妹妹ittee, was first organised in  二0 一 三 by the HCM City Athletics Federation and Pulse Active Company.

After a decade, organisers hope that the  二0 二 四 season will open a new chapter, continuing to entertain runners and change people's lifestyles toward strong health and healthy habits.

It is also expected to push the development of running in particular and sport in general in the city and across Việt Nam.

In addition to the races, the +Positive campaign is also organised to urge people to minimise the event's impact on the environment, keeping the city clean and beautiful for everyone. VNS

 

Tags athletics