Local and foreign runners at the Techcombank HCM City International Marathon last year. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

HCM CITY — The third annual Techcombank HCM City International Marathon has received a record number of local and foreign entries this year, with nearly 13,000 registering to run on December 7 and 8.

The number is 45 per cent higher than last year, Bùi Tá Hoàng Vũ, director of the city Department of Tourism, the race organiser, said at a press meeting held yesterday (Nov 11). 

The first edition in 2017 had 5,000 runners.

This year’s race, themed “A Green Road, a Green City”, would call for environmental protection, Vũ said.

Participants will compete in the marathon (42.2km), half marathon (21.1km), 10km and 0.5km events.

The Kids Run, a fun event for young runners aged five to 14, is being instituted this year to get children involved in running and leading a healthy lifestyle.

On December 6 there will be fun activities such as live music performances, food and beverage offerings and exhibitions for families as part of the event.

Nguyễn Trung Hinh, vice president of the HCM City Athletics Federation, said the annual event has become a movement in the sports community in Việt Nam, and is attracting more and more professional and amateur runners from the national and international communities to HCM City to be a part of it.

The event is co-organised by the city Department of Culture and Sports and the federation. — VNS