According to the VAF, the Tien Phong Marathon's competitiveness will intensify, as 42km medals will count towards the National Sports Games, the country's largest sporting event held once every four years, scheduled for next October.

"Provinces and cities highly value this event. The medals at the National Sports Games are highly regarded," said VAF General Secretary Nguyen Manh Hung at the Tien Phong Marathon 2026 press conference on the morning of March 10. "We hope for a new 42km national record, given the favorable course and timing."

Mr. Hung and the organizing committee's expectations stem from the relatively flat course in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province, starting in the early morning of March 29. Additionally, the race will take place during cool hours, from 3h to 6h.

Hoang Nguyen Thanh finished first in the men's 42km at the Tien Phong newspaper national marathon and long-distance championship 2025, in Quang Tri on 30/3/2025.

The current men's 42km national record is held by Hoang Nguyen Thanh, with 2 hours 18 minutes 42 seconds at the Hong Kong Marathon 2024. The women's record is 2 hours 39 minutes 49 seconds, set by Nguyen Thi Oanh when she won the Viettel Marathon 2024.

At this Tien Phong Marathon, Nguyen Thanh aims for his seventh consecutive championship. Meanwhile, with Nguyen Thi Oanh choosing her specialized 5km event, the women's championship race will likely be between defending champion Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa and Pham Thi Hong Le.

The National Marathon Championship 2026 is jointly organized by Tien Phong newspaper, the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, the Sports Authority of Vietnam, and the VAF. The marathon and 21km distances have professional and amateur categories for men and women. The 10km event includes professional men, young men, and amateur men and women. The 5km event features professional women, young women, and amateur men and women.

Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa finished first in the women's 42km at the Tien Phong newspaper national marathon and long-distance championship 2025.

As the 42km distance counts towards the National Sports Games, the organizing committee will have professional athletes start at least 5 minutes before amateur runners, a change from previous years when they started simultaneously.

"The skill levels of amateur and professional runners are nearing parity, but we must adhere to the Games' regulations to prevent athletes from being obstructed on the course, which could lead to difficult situations," General Secretary Manh Hung explained.

Furthermore, the National Sports Games 2026 stipulates that athletes must complete a doping prevention and control certificate to participate. Upon finishing, professional athletes may be subject to random doping tests.

The 2026 edition also marks the first time Tien Phong Marathon will feature a pacer team. According to the organizers, this innovation enhances the event's professionalism, helps manage race flow, assists amateur athletes in better controlling their pace, and inspires other runners with positive energy.

The Tien Phong Marathon National Championship is Vietnam's longest-running sports event. It began in 1958, with 72 athletes running in Bach Thao Park in Ha Noi, including Emil Zatopek, the Czech Republic athletics legend and the only athlete to win gold medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m in a single 1952 Olympic Games.

The race was only canceled two times due to objective conditions, in 1980 and 1982. Over 66 editions, the event has discovered many generations of excellent athletes, from the late legend Bui Luong, who holds the record for 9 men's 42km championships, Nguyen Van Thuyet, Hoang Minh Phuoc, Luu Van Hung, to Pham Dinh Khanh Doan, Doan Nu Truc Van, Truong Thanh Hang, Nguyen Chi Dong. The current generation includes Nguyen Van Lai, Nguyen Thi Oanh, Pham Thi Hong Le, Hoang Nguyen Thanh, Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa, and Le Thi Tuyet.

Hieu Luong