The first 'My Việt Nam' marathon will feature a record of 20,000 runners racing on August 24 in Hà Nội. Photos courtesy of organisers

HÀ NỘI — The 'Việt Nam Tôi Đó' (My Việt Nam) marathon is already set to break at least one record in its debut on August 24 in Hà Nội.

At a press conference on July 23, the organising committee revealed that as many as 20,000 runners —the highest number of participants for any athletic competition held in Việt Nam — are registered to take part.

The event is not only a competition, but also intended to promote national values of history, culture, and Vietnamese identity. 

Representatives of the VietKings, the Việt Nam Record Organisation, will attend the event and confirm the record.

Marathoners will race in four categories (42km, 21km, 9.2km and 2.9km) at the newly-built Việt Nam Exposition Centre and the Vinhomes Global Gate in the capital city's Đông Hội Ward.

Organisers said the two special distances of 9.2km and 2.9km were set up as a way to celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2. These two categories are expected to receive the highest number of participants.

In addition to the historic meaning of the race route, the marathon venue is also a highlight for runners. The 900,000 sq.m complex has recently been put into operation as one of the world's 10 largest exhibition centres and the largest in Southeast Asia. 

Southeast Asia's largest exhibition centre, the Việt Nam Exposition Centre, will be the tournament venue.

Vinhomes Global Gate is northeastern Hà Nội’s most desirable residential area and is set to become the first '10-Minute International Commercial City'.

"In the joyful atmosphere of the September 2 celebration, the My Việt Nam marathon, under the theme 'Strong Spirit of Việt Nam', will contribute to promoting patriotism, national pride, youth and solidarity," said Hoàng Hoa Đức Anh, representative of the Việt Nam Exposition Centre and marathon organising board.

During their races, runners will have the opportunity to check out the 2,000-year-old Cổ Loa Citadel, the capital of the ancient Vietnamese kingdom of Âu Lạc. They will discover a land rich in cultural and historical traditions, listening to legendary stories of King An Dương Vương and his magical crossbow, while visiting unique architectural works that have been preserved to this day, such as the Cổ Loa Communal House, the Thượng and Bà Chúa temples, and the Ngọc Well. 

"I am proud to be part of this running event. I have tested it and found it to be a flat and beautiful route that will definitely help runners race safely and set new personal records," said veteran runner Đỗ Quốc Luật, who has won a number of titles in several 21km races.

Đỗ Quốc Luật (second left) and other runners test the route prior to race day.

"I will try my best to make my mark in this marathon, which is held in a historic relic site of national legends. I hope other runners will enjoy their race and win awards."

The race is expected to promote Cổ Loa, a symbol of the creativity and technical expertise of the ancient Vietnamese people, as an attractive tourist destination for both domestic and international tourists. It will also help promote the Việt Nam Exposition Centre, a modern construction in the new era of Việt Nam. 

In addition, the marathon is also a green race, in which the organisers have committed to sustainability and environmental protection with technical support from the UNDP and the National Plastic Action Partnership Programme in Việt Nam. 

Runners are asked to minimise plastic waste to help spread the message of sustainable development throughout the community, contributing to the realisation of the Government's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. VNS