On the morning of 14/9, Le Thi Thu Ha completed the 42km race at the VnExpress Marathon Can Tho with a time of 3 hours and 39 seconds. This victory marked her third consecutive VnExpress Marathon (VM) win in the same year, following triumphs in Da Nang and Nha Trang. Apart from former national athlete Pham Thi Hong Le, no one has achieved this feat.
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Thu Ha during the VnExpress Marathon Can Tho on the morning of 14/9. Photo: VnExpress Marathon |
Thu Ha during the VnExpress Marathon Can Tho on the morning of 14/9. Photo: VnExpress Marathon
However, the 1991-born runner expressed some regret at missing the sub-3-hour mark by 39 seconds. This milestone is a dream for many amateur runners, achieved by only about 2% of runners worldwide. So far, only 7 Vietnamese amateur female runners have reached it. "With my preparation and research on competitors, I was confident I would defend my title. But in terms of time, I'm not entirely satisfied," Ha shared.
Le Thi Ha started running relatively late. At the end of 2023, amidst the running boom, she participated in her first race thanks to a gifted bib. After that race, she met the late coach Bui Luong, who encouraged her to continue training.
Le Thi Ha struggles in the final 3km and has to reduce her pace to finish safely. Video: Hai Long
The Binh Phuoc native has consistently improved her times recently. Her performance in Can Tho beat her previous personal record of 3 hours 2 minutes and 38 seconds. "There's still a long road ahead with many opportunities to try again," she said, adding that she'll pursue this goal at the VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight on 30/11.
Regarding her Can Tho race strategy, Le Thi Ha explained that she took a risk by applying her best half-marathon time, set in Hau Giang in July, to the 42km race. This was a bold move as a full marathon is twice as long and requires much more rigorous pacing.
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The moment she won the VM Nha Trang on 24/8. Photo: Duc Dong |
The moment she won the VM Nha Trang on 24/8. Photo: Duc Dong
"For the first 30km, I maintained an average pace of 4 minutes and 8 seconds. But in the last 10km, I didn't refuel in time and dropped a salt tablet, leading to exhaustion. 2km from the finish, I knew I had a chance for a sub-3 if I kept the high pace, but I was too tired and had to slow down to 5:00–5:05," she recounted.
According to Ha, safety and recovery are more crucial than achieving a sub-3-hour time. The runner affirmed her readiness to face challenges, and her current achievements are a testament to that. But she believes running should prioritize long-term consistency.
"For me, a sub-3 time is a significant milestone, the result of long-term accumulation with many sacrifices, patience, injuries, and challenges. This achievement carries immense value, demonstrating perseverance and discipline. I'll continue to pursue this dream and strive to achieve it by the end of the year, perhaps at the VM Hanoi Midnight," Ha shared.
Trong Trung - Lan Anh
