Running

Gia Lai City Trail event will entertain about 3.800 runners testing their skills on November 19. — Photo of organisers

HÀ NỘI —  Athletes are eager to run at the inaugurated Gia Lai City Trail on November 19 in the Central Highlands of Gia Lai.

The organisers, the provincial People's Committee and VietRace365, announced that about 3,800 runners from 40 localities were ready to discover the special routes of the first large-scale running event in Gia Lai.

Athletes will experience road and trail running combined in all four categories of 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km.

While road running is familiar with many , the trail running is designed on outdoor trails in mountainous terrain and includes significant ascents and descents.

A particularly attractive feature of the 2023 Gia Lai City Trail is that it is organised in the most beautiful season of the year. The courses are beautiful, but challenging. Athletes will pass through historical landmarks and typical hills and mountains of the mountain town of Pleiku such as Bửu Minh ancient pagoda, Chư Đang Ya volcano, a road lined with hundred-year-old pine trees a road of wild sunflowers.

"Trail running is more difficult when runners have to go through many different terrains such as steep hills, streams, gravel and mud which requirestrong physique, ,endurance and good technique from particpants," said local runner Nguyễn Nhật Quang.

"On the contrary, it brings a sense of excitement when we enjoy beautiful scenery and explore a new and still wild land. This type of running has been and will continue to grow very strongly, promising to create a trend for running throughout the country."

Quang has trailed in different tournaments in Yên Bái, Lâm Đồng and Cao Bằng and found that each race was not only to improve his fitness but also to have chance of traveling around.

He hoped that runners and tourists would know more about his hometown through this running event.

Phạm Thị Minh Hiếu will test her trail running skill for the first time this weekend.

“I am very proud that Gia Lai hosts such a big race. I am happy to run through beautiful natural scenery. I believe that the athletes will also have a good impression with this tournament. I am training hard to try to achieve the best personal result," Hiếu said.

The trail also features elite runners who are training at the provincial sport centre such as Nguyễn Thành Đạt and Hà Quang Thắng who are national youth athletics team.

"This is a good opportunity for the professional athletes to sharpen their skills because the trail running also support them like daily practise," said Ngô Gia Hùng, deputy director of the provincial sport centre.

"In the upcoming event, they will have chance to run against former SEA Games winner and national reigning champion Hoàng Nguyên Thanh in the 42km class." — VNS