According to Doan Ngoc Hai, former Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of District 1, TP HCM, the VnExpress Marathon All-Star is a race with clear entry criteria and a performance-oriented focus. He views the event as an important stepping stone, helping to transition the running movement from a mass development phase to one emphasizing quality.

Doan Ngoc Hai receives his bib on 7/2. Photo: VnExpress Marathon.

Doan Ngoc Hai receives his bib on 7/2. Photo: VnExpress Marathon.

"The All-Star is a crucial organizational model because this race not only honors outstanding athletes but also establishes new standards for the marathon movement in Vietnam, from participation requirements to organizational quality", he stated.

To qualify for the race, male athletes must complete 42 km in under 4 hours or 21 km in under 2 hours. Female athletes must finish a full marathon in under 5 hours or a half marathon in under 2 hours 30 minutes. This limited entry model ensures professional quality, creating an open racing environment for runners to pursue personal records (PRs). The organizing committee also guarantees professional operational standards with a course featuring many straight sections, few turns, good road surfaces, and complete road closures.

Over the past 6 years, the veteran runner has participated in approximately 20 races within the VnExpress Marathon system. Regularly present on the race tracks, he has observed a clear increase in international runners, which motivates Vietnamese runners to train systematically and improve their performance.

"When a race brings together elite domestic and international athletes, the competition creates clear competitive standards, thereby inspiring Vietnamese runners to train more seriously and systematically, gradually improving their performance and contributing to the growing strength of the marathon movement", he said.

These observations were immediately validated by the events at this year's VM All-Star. Despite the cold, rainy weather and pressure from African athletes, domestic runners still achieved many impressive milestones.

Hai finished the VnExpress Marathon All-Star 2026 in 4 hours 27 minutes 16 seconds. Photo: VnExpress Marathon.

Hai finished the VnExpress Marathon All-Star 2026 in 4 hours 27 minutes 16 seconds. Photo: VnExpress Marathon.

In the men's event, Hoang Nguyen Thanh claimed the top spot with a time of 2 hours 19 minutes 44 seconds – the best marathon performance by a Vietnamese athlete at a domestic race. Huynh Anh Khoi finished 17 seconds later, achieving 2 hours 20 minutes 1 second, significantly breaking his personal record and becoming the second fastest person in Vietnamese marathon history. In the women's event, Pham Thi Hong Le finished in 2 hours 38 minutes 6 seconds, surpassing the national record held by Nguyen Thi Oanh (2 hours 39 minutes 49 seconds).

However, Hai also noted that as the movement grows, the racing frequency for many young athletes becomes more intense. A packed race schedule, if not balanced with periods of accumulation and recovery, can lead to a rapid decline in performance and even unsustainable methods to maintain it.

"I hope Vietnamese athletes will be patient for the long haul, competing selectively to elevate their performance. The running community needs to collaborate with VnExpress Marathon to build a professional, positive, and sustainable race", Hai expressed his expectation.

By Hai Long