Mai Trung and Dan Quyet Go Meter for Meter: The 42km Battle at VnExpress Marathon Nghe An 2026

At exactly 3 a.m. on September 27, at Ho Chi Minh Square, hundreds of feet set off into the darkness of Vinh City. Four distances, 5km, 10km, 21km and 42km, all started and finished on Truong Thi Street, at the junction with Le Van Huu Street. The full marathon, the longest distance, opened first. Less than ten minutes after the starting gun, the lead group had broken away. Mai Trung, Dan Quyet and Dao Ba Thanh left the rest of the field behind. In the opening meters, Dan Quyet looked relaxed, at one point waving to the organizers' cameras. By contrast, Nguyen Mai Trung kept a focused expression, eyes fixed on the road, breathing steadily. The two alternated at the front throughout the early stretch. At times they ran side by side, the gap between them hovering around ten meters. There was no drama of sudden sprinting, only the patience of a genuine long-distance race. Nguyen Mai Trung, 35, from Hanoi, works in e-commerce and is a member of Thanh Cong Runners club. He drew attention in the Hanoi running community by completing the 42km at VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong 2026 with a time of 2 hours 41 minutes 55 seconds, ranking 69th on the list of the fastest full marathon runners in Vietnamese history. That is a notable milestone for an amateur runner, since being in the national top 70 over the most grueling distance is no easy feat. On the other side of the course, Dan Quyet is a familiar name in northern running circles. His strength is a stable endurance base and a tendency not to burn out too early. The ease on his face in the first ten minutes was the sign of someone long accustomed to the pressure of the starting line. Meanwhile, Dao Ba Thanh is also a regular presence in the lead groups of many amateur races across the central and northern regions. In the women's event, a surprise emerged in the very first kilometers. My Hien, a runner from Nghe An Runners club, temporarily moved into the lead. She holds a personal best of 3 hours 7 minutes 39 seconds over 42km. A local athlete leading in the opening stage is always an interesting signal, since My Hien knows the terrain from Ho Chi Minh Square through Ho Tung Mau, Truong Thi, Le Nin Avenue and onto Vinh - Cua Lo Avenue. The course of VnExpress Marathon Grand Tour Nghe An 2026 was rated by runners as favorable. After about 16 km, the route takes athletes onto Binh Minh line, runs along the coastal area of Cua Lo and turns around at Cua Xa. The terrain is relatively flat, with few hills and good roads. As a result, some runners chatting before the race, such as Thanh Meo and Vinh Runner, noted this was the event with the fewest 42km entrants, creating favorable conditions to compete for placings and set personal records. The 21km distance started at 4 a.m., following Ho Tung Mau, Truong Thi, Le Nin Avenue and then straight along Vinh - Cua Lo Avenue. After turning around at around km 11, athletes returned toward the center and finished on Truong Thi Street. This distance had two cutoff points, at km 10 at 5:40 a.m. and km 16.9 at 6:50 a.m., with the course closing at 7:30 a.m. The 10km started at 5 a.m., turning around at around km 5, with one cutoff at km 6 at 6:15 a.m. and the course closing at 7 a.m. The 5km took place entirely in the central area, starting at 6 a.m., with no cutoff and the course closing at 7:15 a.m. Before the race began, from the evening of September 26, hundreds of volunteers gathered at the starting area to receive assignments and familiarize themselves with operating procedures. They were deployed to points along the course, installing infrastructure, completing water stations, cheer zones and other necessary items before runners entered the race. Local police, traffic police and medical staff were also mobilized, handling security, vehicle control and medical support along the entire route. This is the first time the event has been held in the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh. Bib collection took place over two days, September 25 and 26, at the Nghe An Labor Culture House, drawing many athletes to pick up their race numbers and kits. The presence of host clubs such as Nghe An Runner and Ha Tinh Runner in striking pink jerseys created a lively atmosphere at the starting area. Watching the men's 42km race, the notable point was not the speed of Mai Trung or Dan Quyet in the early kilometers, but how they distributed their effort. The fact that the two runners maintained a gap of about ten meters throughout the stretch showed that neither wanted to burn out too early on the coastal course. This is typical strategy for flat marathon races: stay in the group, wait for the opponent to make a mistake and decide it in the finishing stretch. Unlike short distances where speed decides almost instantly, the marathon is a battle of patience and the ability to control heart rate over many hours. My Hien leading the women's event in the early stage also raised an interesting question. With a personal best of 3 hours 7 minutes 39 seconds, she is among the female runners with a solid base. The home advantage helps her control her effort distribution on each segment, especially since the course has many sections familiar to Nghe An locals. However, the marathon is a distance where terrain advantage is only part of the story, with the rest depending on fitness and hydration strategy. One notable point about this year's event is the relatively small number of runners registered for the 42km compared to shorter distances. This reflects the reality of Vietnam's running movement: most participants choose 5km, 10km or 21km, while the full marathon remains a challenge for experienced runners. Fewer opponents means a higher chance of a strong placing for those who dare to choose the longest distance. Looking at the start list, names such as Dan Quyet, Dao Ba Thanh and Le Van Huong stand out. These are all runners who have established their place in the amateur running community. Their competition is not only a race against the clock but also a contest of experience in handling situations on the course, from hydrating at the right moment to adjusting stride when facing sea breezes along the Cua Lo section. Against the backdrop of a rapidly growing running movement in Vietnam, events like VnExpress Marathon Grand Tour Nghe An play an important role in connecting the community. Being held in the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh carries symbolic meaning, while also giving local runners such as Nghe An Runner and Ha Tinh Runner a chance to express their identity. The pink jerseys of the host clubs are not just competition gear but also a mark of regional solidarity. Back to the 42km race, the moment Mai Trung and Dan Quyet ran side by side in the first ten minutes is a miniature portrait of the marathon: two people, one goal, sharing every breath on the same road. Who will break away first, who will hold strength until the final kilometer, the answer only comes when they touch the finish line on Truong Thi Street. The race is still underway. The footsteps continue steadily along Vinh - Cua Lo Avenue, heading toward the sea in the early dawn of central Vietnam. For those watching, the most fascinating thing is not who leads at the tenth kilometer, but who still has the strength to lead at the forty-second.