Ha Thi Hau of Sa Pa (middle) celebrates winning the 70km female race in the Vietnam Trail Marathon this year. Photo courtesy of the organiser

First-time ultra runner Hau took the victory after beating established trail runners Axelle de Feraudy from France and Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM) 100km champion Nguyen Thi Duong of Vietnam.

Hau is from a mountainous area, hailing from Sa Pa Town, Lao Cai Province where she regularly runs the hills and is also a running guide for Topas, the organiser of the event.

“I’ll run in the 52km category in the upcoming VMM, then I target the VMM 100km,” said Hau.

Runners during the Vietnam Trail Marathon this year. Photo courtesy of the organiser

In the 70km male event, the winner was Valentin Orange of France who beat Pham Duc Luan and Nguyen Van Long of Vietnam in second and third, respectively.

“It was a beautiful route through Moc Chau,” said Orange at the finish, where he looked very strong despite running 70km, much of which was under the strong April sun.

On the 42km start line this year were two Operation Smile Ambassadors including singer Duc Tuan and traveller Tran Dang Dang Khoa who travelled around the world on his motorbike. They both ran the VTM for the first time.

Also running for Operation Smile Vietnam at this year’s event was Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy. This was the first time she ran 10km of trails.

A runner enjoys the beautiful scene in Moc Chau. Photo courtesy of the organiser

The 70km this year saw the ‘running writer’ Trang Ha who ran 70km for her first time at the VTM. She is also signed up for 70km distance at the VMM 2021 on August 27-29 in Sa Pa and Vietnam Jungle Marathon 2021 on October 16 in Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa Province.

The event saw almost 4,300 Vietnam-based runners from 48 nations race from 5km to 70km on trails through the orchards and tea fields of Moc Chau.  

VNS

Nearly 4,300 runners to compete at Vietnam Trail Marathon in Son La

Nearly 4,300 Vietnamese and foreign runners will race up to 70km on trails through orchards and tea fields in the Vietnam Trail Marathon (VTM) in Moc Chau, Son La province on April 24 after a suspension triggered by COVID-19.