Born in 2001, Duyen showed early athletic promise and was recruited to the provincial track and field team. Specializing in middle-distance running, she achieved success, helping Nam Dinh win medals at the national championships. However, injuries and limited support led her to retire from professional sports and focus on her studies at the Hanoi University of Sports and Physical Education.

Tran Duyen wins her first VnExpress Marathon in Quy Nhon in June. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

Tran Duyen wins her first VnExpress Marathon in Quy Nhon in June. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

After graduating, Duyen planned to pursue a teaching career. However, a chance encounter with amateur running changed her path. Initially, she joined races for fun, not for competition. But after joining a sports company, her work demanded more serious training.

With her background in track and field, Duyen quickly rose to become a top contender in amateur races, attracting attention with her talent and appearance. She earned the nickname "Running Teacher," a term of endearment from the running community, referencing her background in education.

"I'm luckier than many female athletes. Right after graduation, I was hired by my current company. My boss is understanding and allows me to combine both jobs. In almost every race I participate in, I compete for prizes while also promoting the company's products," Duyen said.

In her early 20s, while many of her peers were still searching for their career paths, Duyen focused on building her personal brand. She designed her own portfolio, highlighting her social media presence, achievements in both road and trail running, and a list of brands she's collaborated with. This portfolio serves as a professional calling card, giving brands, from shoes and apparel to accessories and watches, confidence in partnering with her.

Tran Duyen poses after finishing second in the 21km VnExpress Marathon Libera Nha Trang 2025. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

Tran Duyen poses after finishing second in the 21km VnExpress Marathon Libera Nha Trang 2025. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

"For me, collaboration isn't just about making money; it's about trust from the community and the brand," Duyen explained. She acknowledged that being a running KOL isn't a lucrative career yet, but it provides income to support her passion.

Currently, Duyen has over 33,000 followers on Facebook, nearly 44,000 on TikTok, and an impressive personal best (PB) for an amateur runner: 1 hour 25 minutes and 59 seconds in the half marathon, ranking 28th on Vietnam’s Best Marathon's female 21km leaderboard. She sees these numbers as a stepping stone to spreading her love for running.

Many mornings, while others are still asleep, Tran Duyen is already up, lacing up her shoes, and hitting the road for training. Her runs typically last from a few dozen minutes to over an hour, depending on the training plan. Between training sessions, she finds time to film short videos for brands.

The 2001-born runner has a busy schedule. During the day, Duyen works at the company as a sales representative and brand ambassador. In the evenings, she livestreams, selling shoes and accessories or updating affiliate marketing links on social media.

Duyen has become a brand ambassador for the company, a sports store. Photo: FBNV

Duyen has become a brand ambassador for the company, a sports store. Photo: FBNV

"Sometimes it's stressful because training requires discipline, while content creation requires flexibility and inspiration. But I choose to combine both: running and observing, identifying common mistakes runners make to turn them into useful content. As a result, the two complement each other, and it doesn't feel overwhelming," Duyen shared.

Tran Duyen comes from a family with no background in sports, but she displayed athletic talent from a young age. "As a child, my neighborhood friends were all boys. I played chase and soccer with them, and I was almost unbeatable when being chased," Duyen recalled. Later, her physical education teacher selected her for the school's sports team, where she competed in school-level competitions.

"Running has made me stronger and more disciplined. I was very frail as a child, but since I started running, I've been healthier, so my family supported and encouraged me to train," Duyen said.

Now 24 years old, she has 9 years of experience competing in races. Most recently, Duyen won the 21km VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon, placed second in the VnExpress Marathon Nha Trang, and finished in the top 3 in the VnExpress Marathon Can Tho. Last year, Duyen was nominated for the Runner Of The Year award in the Outstanding Female Amateur Athlete category, organized by VnExpress Newspaper.

Lan Anh