After finishing the 21km race in 1 hour 14 minutes and 22 seconds, Trieu Tien Luyen praised the VnExpress Marathon (VM) Can Tho 2025. He ranked the Can Tho course second only to Hue among the VM races. The cool weather on the morning of 14/9 also helped him conserve energy, allowing him to finish strong enough to run another 5 km with a friend.
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Trieu Tien Luyen finishes the VnExpress Marathon Can Tho 21km in 1 hour 14 minutes and 22 seconds. Photo: VnExpress Marathon |
Trieu Tien Luyen finishes the VnExpress Marathon Can Tho 21km in 1 hour 14 minutes and 22 seconds. Photo: VnExpress Marathon
"The Can Tho course is flat, scenic, and quite similar to Hue. These good conditions helped many runners achieve good results; some of my friends set new personal records at this race," Luyen said.
Compared to coastal VM races like Nha Trang or Quy Nhon, runners found the Can Tho half marathon less challenging due to its flat terrain and lack of long inclines. This benefits runners who favor speed, as they can maintain a steady pace throughout the 21km.
On the morning of 14/9, Tien Luyen impressed spectators with a final sprint in the last 200 meters, overtaking Truong Tri Tam and Ly Nhan Tin. The three athletes had been neck and neck for most of the race, constantly exchanging the lead in the men's 21km, creating an exciting high-speed competition.
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A section of the VnExpress Marathon Can Tho course on the morning of 14/9. Photo: VnExpress Marathon |
A section of the VnExpress Marathon Can Tho course on the morning of 14/9. Photo: VnExpress Marathon
"Throughout the race, the three of us were practically inseparable. I was constantly worried because I didn't know their capabilities and could only run and observe. At times, I was left quite far behind," Trieu Tien Luyen shared.
As the race entered its final stage, Luyen accelerated in the last stretch. This burst of speed allowed him to surpass Tri Tam and cross the finish line first. Tri Tam finished second just 10 seconds later, while Ly Nhan Tin came in third.
"My initial strategy was to stay close behind. But when my competitors showed signs of slowing down, I had to take the lead, then worried about not having enough energy later. In the final kilometers, the decision to accelerate paid off," Luyen explained. According to the champion, creating a gap from his rivals in the last kilometer triggered a surge of excitement. "I was very tired, but when I saw the 'finisher' banner ahead, I used all my remaining strength, lengthening my stride to accelerate."
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(From right to left) Truong Tri Tam, Trieu Tien Luyen, and Ly Nhan Tin compete at the front of the 21km race. Photo: VnExpress Marathon |
(From right to left) Truong Tri Tam, Trieu Tien Luyen, and Ly Nhan Tin compete at the front of the 21km race. Photo: VnExpress Marathon
This victory was even more meaningful because just two weeks earlier, at the VnExpress Marathon Nha Trang on 24/8, Trieu Tien Luyen had to drop out mid-race due to exhaustion while climbing Luong Son pass. He admitted to being somewhat overconfident and underprepared. "That failure haunted me, but it also fueled my determination to come back," he stated.
To prepare for the race in the Mekong Delta, Luyen adjusted his training plan based on the course characteristics. "I chose flat routes and focused on high-speed training during long runs, instead of hill training as I did for Nha Trang," he explained. Despite having only two weeks to recover, he still trained consistently, incorporating short speed drills to regain his feel and maintain his form.
Hai Long
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