High humidity from the sea and early morning sun in the Southern region cause significant sweating during continuous activity. This quickly saturates socks, increasing friction between skin and fabric, which often leads to foot blisters and impacts a runner's performance.

Therefore, the first criterion for running shoes is the upper material. New runners should choose shoes with thin engineered mesh uppers or large ventilation holes. This mesh technology optimizes sweat evaporation, keeping feet dry and comfortable throughout the race.

Runner Dan Quyet wears Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 shoes at VnExpress Marathon Can Tho 2026. *Photo: VnExpress Marathon*

This is particularly useful for coastal races like the VnExpress Vung Tau International Half Marathon Herbalife Cup on 30/8. The Vung Tau course features many sharp coastal turns and gentle slopes around Nui Nho mountain. Early morning mist and the humidity of sea salt on the asphalt can cause slight slipperiness, reducing traction and increasing the risk of ankle injuries.

An ideal shoe for this course must have a premium abrasion-resistant rubber outsole with deep grooves or small studs to enhance friction. Specialized racing shoes like the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4 use the renowned PumaGrip rubber sole technology, highly praised for its grip on wet surfaces, ensuring safety when runners accelerate or descend slopes.

Continuous long-distance running rapidly increases blood flow to the lower extremities, causing feet to swell more than usual after just a few kilometers. Snug-fitting shoes mean toes repeatedly hit the toe box, especially on gentle slopes around the Christ the King statue.

Runners must not wear snug-fitting shoes. Instead, choose a size 0,5 to one size larger than your actual foot size. This larger size, combined with an ankle-lock lacing technique, creates a safe space in the toe box. This protects toenails from compression that can cause bruising or severe injury when descending slopes towards the finish line.

For those combining racing with leisure travel in Vung Tau, pack two pairs of shoes instead of just one. The first pair is for the official race, ideally one used for about 50 km to achieve optimal softness for race day, avoiding the discomfort of stiff new shoes.

The second pair is for post-race recovery, typically models with thick, comfortable cushioning for daily movement and sightseeing at Bai Truoc or Vung Tau Lighthouse. Changing shoes flexibly not only helps relax the ankle musculoskeletal system but also speeds up and enhances muscle recovery over the next 48 hours. For cost optimization, the Asics Novablast 5 model offers a good balance between running and daily wear without hindering recovery.

Duc Anh

The VnExpress Vung Tau International Half Marathon Herbalife Cup, taking place on 30/8, is an international race part of the VnExpress Marathon system. It features three distances: 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km along Vung Tau's coastal route. Interested runners can register here.