Marathon stars flock to Hanoi Midnight Ioniq 5 Cup

Many famous runners such as Truong Van Tam, Huynh Thanh, and Thuy Van were in Hanoi from November 24 to receive their Bibs and get acquainted with the race course.

Truong Van Tam - runner, coach of T-Coaching took a flight to Hanoi on the morning of November 24. At 2:00 p.m., he checked in at the tournament Expo and met some friends in the running community.

Analyzing the 42km route, he assessed that the run did not pose many challenges but at the same time was an interesting experience. Running across two famous bridges in the capital and exploring the vast West Lake was something the Tay Ninh-born runner had never tried before, despite having participated in many different races in Hanoi. "I think it was a bit challenging but the feeling was definitely new and more exciting," he said.

Last year, Truong Van Tam completed VM Hanoi Midnight in 2 hours and 48 minutes. Returning this season, the athlete who won second place in the VM Quy Nhon 2023 movement said that this year's competition conditions were better as the race course had fewer turns and many long runs instead of constantly changing directions. The organizers arranged many water and medical stations to support the athletes. In addition, the cooler weather was definitely a factor that T-Coaching runners loved. "If the weather continues to be cool on race day, I set a goal of under 2 hours and 45 minutes. Hopefully I can compete for the overall ranking," the 35-year-old runner shared.

Truong Van Tam was one of the first runners to receive his Bib. Photo: Tung Dinh — Truong Van Tam was one of the first runners to receive his Bib. Photo: *Tung Dinh*

Nguyen Phan Thuy Van - champion of Aquaman Vietnam biathlon also loves the new route of Hanoi Midnight. She believes that this is the highlight of this year's season. With a strange and challenging race, runners always feel the urge to conquer.

Nguyen Phan Thuy Van is a member of "Northern Alliance" - the team competing in the team category. This is a group of excellent runners mainly from Thanh Ha Runner Club and runners from Hanoi, Lao Cai, Lai Chau and some neighboring provinces... "Northern Alliance" is considered one of the names with the potential to win the championship when possessing many FM sub3 and HM sub1:25 factors such as Trinh Dinh An, Nguyen Van Tuyen, Ho Chi Thien, Ha Van Duoc, Tieu Duong...

As a triathlete, Thuy Van does not set personal goals but wants to compete with all her might to contribute to the team. "We will compete with all our hearts with the goal of winning the championship," said the female runner.

Meanwhile, Huynh Thanh set a goal to have a PR. Fearing that the North would be cold and windy, the runner from Binh Dinh flew to Hanoi a few days ago to get used to the weather. The runner born in 1993 also prepared gloves and thermal jackets in case the temperature drops sharply on race day.

This is Huynh Thanh's third time participating in Hanoi Midnight. The changing, non-repetitive route is interesting for him. However, he is cautious and said he will warm up thoroughly before racing, enter the race slowly at a moderate speed, especially on the bridge sections, and pay attention to replenishing gel and water. "The race has challenges, but the more difficult it is, the more fun it is. I want to surpass the achievement of 2 hours 49 minutes at VM Hue 2023," Huynh Thanh said.

Le Thi Lai is ready to conquer 21km in her hometown Hanoi. Photo: Tung Dinh — Le Thi Lai is ready to conquer 21km in her hometown Hanoi. Photo: *Tung Dinh*

Le Thi Lai or Anna Le was excited on the day she returned to the capital. The female runner had lived in Hanoi for more than 30 years before moving to Nha Trang 5 years ago. VM Hanoi Midnight is a special race that the 39-year-old runner favors because it helps her relive her childhood memories. She has been in Hanoi for a week now, taking the opportunity to revisit familiar streets, meet friends and maintain daily training.

For this runner, Hanoi at night through the VnExpress Marathon racetrack has a romantic, ancient beauty. She loves the feeling of crossing the old streets, watching the streets, breathing fresh air under the trees. This year, the feeling will be more refreshing with the addition of slopes. "I don't set a performance goal because I want to enjoy the feeling of euphoria when running in my hometown. After the race, I don't know when I will return to Nha Trang because I still miss it," Anna Le said.

VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight 2023 Ioniq 5 Cup will start at 1am on November 26, attracting 11,000 runners. This is the system's 6th tournament in 2023. Many runners aim to set a PR because of the beautiful race track and pleasant weather. In addition to the individual race, the team competition of 52 clubs with 1,300 athletes - nearly double the previous tournament, promises to create unpredictable competition. Hyundai Thanh Cong Vietnam Automobile Joint Stock Company is the main partner, accompanying the event.

Hoai Phuong - Thanh Lan