Marathon and race walking athletes navigate challenges at SEA games

Concerned about long travel distances, Vietnamese marathon and race walking athletes gathered near the competition venue last night, preparing to compete this evening.

Both the 42,195 km marathon and 20 km race walking events are being held at Happy and Healthy Bike Lane, located 30 km from the center of Bangkok. This route, dedicated to cycling, running, and walking, is near Suvarnabhumi Airport. It was developed as a large-scale outdoor sports and wellness complex. Each loop is over 20 km, meaning the marathon event will cover two loops.

Happy and Healthy Bike Lane - the venue for the marathon and race walking events at SEA Games 33. Photo: Organising Committee

Happy and Healthy Bike Lane - the venue for the marathon and race walking events at SEA Games 33. Photo: Organising Committee

Vietnam has 6 athletes participating. Among them, siblings Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc and Nguyen Thanh Ngung, along with Thai Thi Kim Ngan, will compete in the men's and women's race walking events. Hoang Nguyen Thanh will run in the men's marathon, while Bui Thi Thu Ha and Hoang Thi Ngoc Hoa will compete in the women's marathon.

Unlike previous SEA Games, which typically held these events in the early morning, this time, both events are scheduled for the late afternoon, starting at 5:30 p.m. However, according to the athletes, the change in schedule is not a major concern. As evening approaches, the sun will be less intense, and the road surface temperature will drop, helping to reduce physical exertion.

Nevertheless, due to the distant competition venue, Vietnamese athletes, who are staying in central Bangkok, could not travel to practice there. The runners primarily trained around the stadium, and no athlete has had the opportunity to practice on the actual course. Despite this, Hoang Nguyen Thanh noted that the venue's proximity to the airport and its flat, non-hilly terrain make it an ideal location for competition.

Race walker Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc has won 19 national championships and 5 SEA Games gold medals. Photo: Duc Dong

Race walker Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc has won 19 national championships and 5 SEA Games gold medals. Photo: Duc Dong

The SEA Games 33 Organising Committee arranged buses to transport athletes to the venue this afternoon. However, concerned about long travel times, potential traffic jams, and motion sickness, the Vietnamese delegation opted to rent their own vehicle and booked a hotel one km from the venue, arriving last night. "If we relied on the organizing committee's bus and encountered any problems along the way, we would lose energy, or even time, and miss our chance to compete. So, the delegation planned ahead to be thorough", athlete Thu Ha explained.

One of the most significant concerns for the race walking event is the referees. According to "race walking queen" Thanh Phuc, a 5-time SEA Games gold medalist, race walking is a subjective event, leading referees to often favor the host country and penalize other athletes. "My only pressure comes from the referees; otherwise, I have no fears. I will compete wholeheartedly for national pride", she stated.

In the marathon event, Nguyen Thanh is Vietnam's gold medal hope today. The 30-year-old runner from Binh Phuoc holds the Vietnamese men's marathon record with a time of 2 hours 18 minutes 43 seconds, set in 2024. He was also the first Vietnamese runner to win a SEA Games 31 gold medal, achieving a time of 2 hours 25 minutes 8 seconds when the games were held at home in 2022. At SEA Games 32 in Cambodia in 2023, Nguyen Thanh earned a bronze medal with a time of 2 hours 35 minutes 49 seconds.

Ngoc Hoa, born in 2000, previously won a SEA Games 31 bronze medal with a result of 2 hours 57 minutes 35 seconds. In 2024, she broke the national record by achieving 2 hours 44 minutes 52 seconds, before Nguyen Thi Oanh surpassed her with 2 hours 39 minutes 50 seconds. Meanwhile, Bui Thi Thu Ha, born in 2003, is a rising runner with consistent performances around 2 hours 50 minutes.