Hà Thị Hậu runs to win the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championships in Southern Taiwan’s Kenting National Park in April. Photos xterraplanet.com

HÀ NỘI — Trail running star Hà Thị Hậu will be the sole Vietnamese representative at the legendary Sierre-Zinal race on August 12 in the Swiss canton of Valais 

Sierre-Zinal is one of the four 4 biggest circuits in the world in which runners will head along a daunting 31km mountain trail involving a 2200m elevation gain and an 1100m vertical drop in the heart of the Valais Alps. 

Known as the race of the five 4,000s, – in reference to the majestic 4,000-metre-high summits that overlook the race – it is a landmark in the trail running world. With the stunning scenery and the warm and genial atmosphere, Sierre-Zinal has been hailed the “New York Marathon” of mountain races. It is also the oldest race of its kind in Europe.

Every year, it attracts the world’s top road, mountain and trail runners. The largely uphill course makes it a race that suits many different types of runners.

For its 50th edition, most of the race’s former winners will be there, some running again on this iconic course route just for fun, others to prove they are still on top of their game.

Hậu will be one of more than 6,200 athletes registered for the tournament which sold out all slots within one hour.

The 34-year-old will compete in the female elite category with nearly 100 competitors.

Hậu only started running in 2020 but has yet to be beaten in a race. She’s won the 70km Vietnam Trail Marathon, the 100km Vietnam Mountain Marathon, the 54km Doi Inthanon by UTMB, the 75km Mt. Apo Sky and Vertical Race, the UTA Australia by UTMB 50km, and most recently the 35km XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championships that took place in Southern Taiwan’s Kenting National Park in April.

Hà Thị Hậu runs to win the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championships in Southern Taiwan’s Kenting National Park in April. Photos xterraplanet.com

Her biggest rival will be Dutch long-distance runner Nienke Brinkman. She is the defending champion of the Golden Trail Series 2022 and holds her national full marathon record (2:22.51).

Other favourites are trail running and orienteering Swiss champion Judith Wyder who won the GTS race in 2019 and took silver at the Trail World Championship 2023, and American cross-country skiing champion Sophia Laukli and Kenyan Philaries Kisang who finished third last year.

The men's race will be tight, pitting Kenyan world mountain champion Patrick Kipngeno against the formidable Eritrean Petro Mamu and Rémi Bonnet of the hosts.

The record holder is Spanish Kilian Jornet who in 2019 ran 2hr 31.44min of the men's category. He has also won the tournament the most, nine times on the top podium. Meanwhile, Swiss Maude Mathys is the best female runner who has won three times with a record time of 2:46.03 set in 2019.

The race which begins at 7am local time (3.30pm Hà Nội time) will be broadcast live in over 80 countries worldwide by RTS, Eurosport and many other TV channels. VNS