Hoang Nguyen Thanh is eager to 'match' with runner Kenya

Attending VM Nha Trang for the first time, national track and field team athlete Hoang Nguyen Thanh aims to win the final, despite the presence of Kenyan athlete Victor Chepkwony (26 years old). The best record of the African runner in the full marathon is 2 hours 19 minutes. While the best parameter of Vietnamese athletes is 2 hours 25 minutes - set when winning the gold medal in marathon content at SEA Games 31.

High goals mean pressure is Thanh's thinking. He believes that as long as you believe in yourself, practice hard, every opponent is not too big an obstacle. On the other hand, Vietnamese runners like Thanh rarely have the opportunity to compete internationally, so the MetaSports Marathon Nha Trang race track becomes even more attractive.

"I used to run with Kenyan runners. They showed me new heights, made me more motivated to practice and more excited," Hoang Nguyen Thanh shared before the tournament.

Strong competitors from the running powerhouses are good news for Vietnamese sports. Greater competition will cause domestic athletes to find ways to improve their performance, shorten the distance with them, thereby improving the quality of the movement.

MetaSports Marathon Nha Trang 2023 is not the first time Vietnamese players have faced off against African athletes. Earlier this year, at the MetaSports Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight, Thanh faced another Kenyan runner, Ezekiel Kembol. However, because his body was not used to the game time, he had a problem, finishing 11 minutes behind Kembol, taking second place.

"I want to compete with them one more time. The starting time is more suitable and with good preparation, I hope the results will improve. My desire is still the highest position in 42km," Nguyen said. Thanh said.

After the 32nd SEA Games, Hoang Nguyen Thanh had a lot of time to practice and compete in movement tournaments. On average, he participates in a race every month. With Binh Phuoc's foot, the movement tournaments help him check his parameters and maintain his achievements during his time not playing in the team.

"Each tournament is held in a locality with different roads, terrain, and weather. This makes me always look for new training methods. Since then, I have a lot of competition experience and an effective way to train. maintain and improve performance," Thanh said.

In addition to achievement issues, races like MetaSports Marathon are a great inspiration for him to work hard in practice and competition because he can meet movement runners. Rating bar, marathon is a tough content, professional athletes, full-time, there are times when frustrated because of injuries or heavy exercises. But movement runner brothers and sisters still managed to arrange work and family to conquer this subject, completing the race with very good results.

"I admire and have to learn from everyone in the spirit and will to overcome their own limits. Especially, at a challenging race from road to opponent like MetaSports Marathon Nha Trang, this is even more important." , he said.

Learning about last year's MetaSports Marathon Nha Trang, Hoang Nguyen Thanh assessed the full marathon route with beautiful scenery but many challenges, especially the Luong Son pass with a length of more than 10 km, a slope of nearly 160 m. Runner constantly has to switch state between climbing slopes, downhill with winding bends.

"The opponent is strong, the track is challenging, so I will adjust my strategy. Actively lower the target pace from 10 to 20 seconds in the first half of the distance, keep the strength for the ups and downs in the second half," Nguyen said. Thanh said.

From the experience of competing in many domestic and international tournaments, he advises runners to get used to the slope before entering the race so as not to be overwhelmed. On race day, you have to listen to your body and measure your strength. Trying to cross the slope quickly can cost the runner later.

Hoang Nguyen Thanh is the first Vietnamese male athlete to win a gold medal in the marathon content at the SEA Games arena. He entered athletics in 2011, starting with the 5 and 10 km distances. By 2014, Thanh had a predestined relationship with marathons.

However, because the injury was too severe and his performance declined, Thanh decided to retire in 2017. When he saw that the movement was growing, the injury was stable and he found joy and motivation, in early 2020, Binh's legs ran. Phuoc returned to the track. "During the break, I have improved physically, bravely and mentally. That is the foundation for my results today," Thanh said.

MetaSports Marathon Marvelous Nha Trang 2023 took place on August 13, with a scale of 11,000 athletes. The tournament was organized by MetaSports Newspaper in collaboration with Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee. The running track meets AIMS standards, with a variety of terrain and landscapes, runners can experience the modern beauty of Nha Trang's coastal town from the inner city, to the majestic natural scenery when going to the suburbs, conquering the pass. Paint salaries.