The current world record in this category is held by Chinese runner Huang Zhenglong, who ran 100 km daily for 100 consecutive days from 6/12/2025 to 15/3/2026. Guinness World Records officially recognized Huang's achievement of covering a total distance of 10,000 km in Foshan, Guangdong province.

Speaking to VnExpress on the evening of 5/8, Nguyen Van Long confirmed his readiness to surpass Huang's record and establish a new benchmark: running 100 km daily for 102 consecutive days. "I wouldn't plan and undertake this challenge if I didn't believe I could achieve it," he stated.

Nguyen Van Long will undertake the upcoming challenge at the Bo Ke Hoi Phu Urban Area in Pleiku ward, Gia Lai province, utilizing a 2,4 km route.

Nguyen Van Long (yellow shirt) was joined by Gia Lai runners during his first cross-Vietnam run in 2022. *Photo: Facebook/Nguyen Van Long*

The 41-year-old runner views this upcoming challenge as a practical way to support national movements: "All People Exercise Following the Example of Great Uncle Ho" and "Be Healthy to Build a Career and Defend the Nation." Furthermore, Nguyen Van Long intends for this challenge to become a community event. People everywhere can participate, running in their local areas to join online, or physically at Bo Ke Hoi Phu on 21/3/2027.

"I aim to inspire both experienced runners and newcomers, to help them understand that endurance often begins with the simple decision to lace up shoes and go for a light run or walk daily," the Gia Lai runner explained.

Born in Gia Lai in 1985, Nguyen Van Long began his running journey relatively late compared to many established athletes. In 2005, despite being past the typical age, he sought permission to train with the Gia Lai provincial athletics talent team. He conquered the 42 km distance in just three months, an achievement that earned him a special exemption to join the provincial team at age 21. Two years later, he represented Vietnam, completing the 42 km race in Kenya with the best performance among Southeast Asian athletes.

The period from 2009 to 2012 marked the peak of Long's career. He secured first place in the 42 km event at the national athletics championships in 2009 and 2011. He also won the 21 km race at the Tien Phong newspaper event for three consecutive years, from 2010 to 2012. Following this, he transitioned to recreational competitions, becoming a recognizable figure at annual domestic running events.

The running community has affectionately nicknamed Nguyen Van Long "the phenomenon" due to his audacious decisions to undertake cross-Vietnam runs in various conditions, completing three such journeys in 2022, 2024, and 2025. "While human strength has its limits, the will is boundless," the 40-year-old runner declared before his third cross-Vietnam run in 2025. "I constantly seek to challenge myself and am confident in my ability to conquer them."

Duc Dong