Marathon

Runners enjoy their race at the 2023 Danang International Marathon. This year's event will be held on March 22-24 along the beach of Đà Nẵng City. - Photos courtesy of Pulse Active

ĐÀ NẴNG — Cool weather and beautiful routes make ideal conditions for athletes to put in great performances at the 11th Danang International Marathon this weekend in Đà Nẵng City.

The annual tournament was organised in August in its previous editions. However, this year a new date has been set in March which will continue in the following seasons.

The nice weather in March, according to organisers, will help athletes have a better experience and running conditions, while travel services will also have better prices than in the summer months.

The routes this year, which met standards of the International Marathon Association (AIMS) and the World Athletics Federation, will lead runners past highlights of Đà Nẵng such as the Dragon Bridge, Hàn River Bridge, Sơn Trà Peninsula and Ngũ Hành Sơn Mountain.

The stunning race, offering the chance to admire the dazzling beauty of the coastal city when dawn comes, is considered one of the three most beautiful marathons in Southeast Asia by Radisson Magazine and was ranked third out of the six most must-join marathons in Asia by Rad Seasons Magazine.

A runner takes part in the 2023 Danang International Marathon, holding a banner calling for people to come to Đà Nẵng.

This year's marathon will welcome more than 9,000 competitors, about 1,800 being foreigners. 

Organisers revealed that as many as 100 Dragon Runners who are elites or amateurs with high personal records will take part in the races.

The three-day event from March 22-24 will have 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km and the Ronny Dash of 1.5km for children.

Kenyan Edwin Kiptoo Yebe and former SEA Games champion Phạm Thị Bình are strong candidates for the title of the men's and women's full marathon categories, respectively.

Participants’ results are eligible to register for the world’s most prestigious races including the Boston Marathon, London Marathon, New York City Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and Tokyo Marathon.

Since its debut in 2013, the run has become one of the largest sport events in the beach city of Đà Nẵng, attracting thousands of Vietnamese and foreign participants. It is expected to lure 20,000 athletes with 2,000 foreigners by 2027.

Around 9,000 runners will compete in the 2024 Danang International Marathon.

It is jointly held by local authorities and Pulse Active, a leading company in the field of organising international sport events in Việt Nam.

It also plays a role in encouraging people to follow healthy lifestyles with regular sport practise, and at the same time pushing sport tourism for the city in the off-peak months.

"Our plan is aimed at long-term sustainable development of an international marathon. For this goal, we not only want to increase the number of participants but also ensure that many other factors are included such as organisation quality and minimising the impact of the event on the environment," said Bady Phạm, Pulse Active director.

"Since 2017, Pulse Active has applied a green campaign at all events. We don't accept leaflets, brochures, paper vouchers or other unnecessary products and use reusable water bottles instead of single-use ones. Although there is still a lot to do, small steps will help us go far and in the right direction." VNS