A runner, wearing the official jersey of the VPBank Hanoi Marathon 2021, practises on the track inside the My Dinh Stadium. (Photo: courtesy of the organiser)Dueto the pandemic in the capital, the race organising committee has decidedto trim the size of the event from the expected 10,000 people to 600 qualifiedfull marathon runners to compete to be on the official track for themarathon at the 31st SEA Games.
The 42kmfull marathon starts from My Dinh Stadium and is fully located in NamTu Liem district.
Therace will take runners through the National Sports Complex in My Dinh, the F1Racing Road and routes including Do Xuan Hop Road, Tan My Road, Le Duc Tho Roadand Le Quang Dao Road.
Thestart times will begin at 5 pm on March 6 for the 42km full marathonwithin 5 hours of the cut-off time.
Thisyear marks the first time a running event has been allowed by the VietnamAthletics Federation (VAF) to introduce the National Record-Breaking Prize inthe marathon.
DrNguyen Tri, General Director of DHA Vietnam, the owner of the marathon, saidthe decision was: “In line with the world sports trend of attachingimportance to the fundamental level rather than only to high achievementsport."
“Withthe slogan ‘For a strong Vietnam,’ this is not only a message to cheer forthe 31st SEA Games but also an extra-ordinary reminder to the community that afoundation of strong physical strength is the basic to overcomethe pandemic. And sports (in which running has the largest number ofpeople practising) is the basis for creating that physical foundation."
“Fora strong Vietnam” is also a message about a new lifestyle, sportsmanship andincreased public health. Practising sports is the most effective and leastexpensive, active health care method. That is also a highly precious awakeningpoint from the pandemic.
Heldannually since 2018, the VPBank Hanoi Marathon is recognised as a member of theAssociation of International Marathons and Distance Races.
Sofar, the national records in the marathon are among the longest standingrecords in Vietnam’s National Athletics Championships, with the 18-year-oldrecord of 2:21:51 set by athlete Nguyen Chi Dong at the 22nd SEA Games, whichwas held in Vietnam in 2003, and the record of 2:45:09 established by athleteHoang Thi Thanh at the National Athletics Championships in 2016.
Beforethat, the national record set by Bui Luong (2:32:00) had existed for 35 years(from 1968 to 2003).
The prizefor a new national record is 50 million VND./.
VNA
