Vietnamese runner runs more than 230 km in 24 hours

Dang Hieu conquers the challenge from 5pm on 10/3 to 5pm on 11/3. The running location is a 2.4 km long loop at the end of Mai Chi Tho street, in Viet Hung urban area, Long Bien.

Initially, this runner born in 1983 only set a goal of running 200 km for 24 consecutive hours. But after running 170 km in 18 hours, Dang Hieu self-assessed and decided to raise the goal to 230 km, and he finished when the clock hit 230.41 km, with an average pace of 6:15 (6 minutes 15 seconds per kilometer).

This is Southeast Asia's best 24-hour running record. Previously recorded parameters are 218 km of Philippine runner Rolando Espina and 216 km of Singapore runner Wong Hoong-wei both in 2019. The Vietnamese running community has only recorded Cao Ngoc Ha running 174 km in 24 2014 hours.

Running continuously for 24 hours is a form of ultramarathon, competitors will run the longest distance possible in this time period. This form of running is usually held on loops from 1.6 km to 3.2 km or sometimes a track (in the stadium) 400 meters long.

This form is popular around the world with the biggest tournament being the IAU 24 Hour World Championship held annually by the International Ultrarunner Association (IAU) since 2001 (except for the three postponed years 2011, 2014 and 2021). In 2020, there are 340 24-hour races taking place around the world, but Vietnam has no official tournament yet.

Dang Hieu, currently living and working in Ho Chi Minh City, is not a professional runner. The director of a foreign investment fund in Vietnam has just come to running since 2018, and gradually formed a love for trail running (running trails, mountain roads), ultra trail through a number of trail running events inside and outside. water, although he didn't have much time to go away to practice in the field. Dang Hieu usually only trains on the road and runs alone.

His original plan was to attend the Vietnam 24h Ultra tournament, which was scheduled to be held on March 11-12 at the District 8 stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, but this tournament was later cancelled. However, encouraged and supported by his brother Nguyen Dang Trung - also a famous movement runner - Dang Hieu still decided to do the 24-hour running challenge by himself.

The two brothers researched, surveyed and decided to choose the area of ​​Mai Chi Tho Street, Long Bien, Hanoi for implementation. Dang Trung also connected with VKL - a famous running club in Long Bien - to provide logistical support for his brother during the challenge. "I chose Long Bien, Hanoi to take on the challenge because there is a good running track here, favorable weather, especially my brother and VKL club - who were very enthusiastic supporters when I came up with this idea. Within 1-2 days, we turned the idea into an implementation plan," said Dang Hieu.

Starting at 5pm on March 10, Dang Hieu always tries to keep the pace at 5:40 - 5:45, and walks to keep his feet when he comes to the turning point after every kilometer. "The segment from the 95th to the 125th mile took place at the end of the night and in the morning, and it was also when my body was most exhausted and sleepy. Pace therefore reduced it to 7:30. But being relayed by friends who loved running, I did not give up, then gradually recovered and continued to run at the same speed as before, before deciding to raise the goal to 230 km," he said.

According to the runner born in 1983, he has long adhered to a strict training discipline with a full week of cumulative volume. Besides, Dang Hieu also sacrificed many pleasures like his peers. Dang Hieu said: "The biggest barrier is probably the time limit of 24 hours a day, because I still have family work. Therefore, for many years now, I have also self-directed, avoiding wasting time. on other unnecessary things such as hanging out and drinking, chatting with friends in groups, to spend time practicing".

And to conquer the challenge, in just the first two months of 2023, Dang Hieu slightly increased his accumulated mileage to about 1,300 km, which means running about 650 km per month. That figure combined with completing the 165km distance of the Doi Inthanon by UTMB trail race in Thailand in 38 hours 44 minutes in December 2022 gives him more confidence when entering the 24-hour running challenge this weekend.

The support and encouragement from family and friends as well as the running-loving community is also another source of strength, helping Dang Hieu exceed the initial 200km goal when entering the challenge. In laps 64 - 65, after running 156 km, Hieu could still accelerate with his friends. There were about 50 runners who took turns running with Hieu, in which his brother Dang Trung ran a total of 130km in the first, middle and last stages.

Mr. Hieu's upcoming plan is to conquer the race at Mont Blanc mountain through Switzerland, France and Italy in August.