On the morning of 14/9, Yen Thu won the Hoi An Heritage Half Marathon with a time of 1 hour 27 minutes and 44 seconds, achieving a pace of 4:03. This comeback demonstrates her full physical and mental recovery after collapsing just meters from the finish line of the VnExpress Marathon Danang in late July.

"I'm no longer dwelling on the Danang race. What's done is done, and I must focus on training for future races," Yen Thu told VnExpress. She added that she felt no fear or lingering effects from the incident. Even during the final kilometers in Hoi An, the memory of the collapse didn't cross her mind.

According to Yen Thu, her inability to finish in Danang was simply "bad luck." She explained, "To be so close, just a few meters from the finish, and not make it was unfortunate. I don't think it was anything else."

Yen Thu celebrates her victory in the Hoi An Heritage Half Marathon. Photo: Hoi An Heritage Half Marathon

Yen Thu celebrates her victory in the Hoi An Heritage Half Marathon. Photo: Hoi An Heritage Half Marathon

While not viewing the Danang incident as a haunting experience, Yen Thu acknowledges it as a valuable lesson. She recounted skipping two water stations during the race, which led to severe dehydration. The runner, originally from Dak Lak, admitted to being overconfident, believing her body could handle the strain since she was nearing the finish line.

"The course was crowded. 21km runners merging onto the 42km route near the water station made it difficult for me to get water. I also missed a water station before Thuan Phuoc Bridge, but a male runner gave me a bottle. I thought I could endure, but I couldn't," Yen Thu said.

In the July 20 race, Yen Thu was over 10 minutes ahead of the second-place runner, Le Thi Ha. However, by saving a few seconds and skipping the water station, she lost her chance at victory. She also dismissed the notion that she was pushing for a personal best, as she calculated she couldn't beat her best time of 2 hours and 55 minutes at her current pace.

Physically, Yen Thu only needed about a week to fully recover and resume training. "I will definitely prepare more thoroughly for future races. I'll test and familiarize myself with things like gels and personal gear before competing," the Dak Lak (formerly Phu Yen) athlete emphasized.

Coach Nguyen Tuan Anh, who trains Yen Thu at the National Sports Training Center III (Danang), confirmed that she suffered no lasting health consequences. "Thanks to her strong physical foundation, Thu recovered quickly and returned to training as planned," he said. "The incident in Danang serves as a lesson for any marathon runner."

Coach Tuan Anh praised Yen Thu's willpower and endurance. He listed her impressive achievements at the National Marathon Championship and the Tien Phong Newspaper's long-distance race, including two consecutive 4th-place finishes in the full marathon in 2024 and 2025, and a silver medal at the VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon 2025, finishing just 8 seconds behind national athlete Hong Le.

"In those races, Thu adhered to her strategy, paced herself well, and finished safely and healthily," he affirmed.

He viewed her recent Hoi An half-marathon victory as a long training run, demonstrating her steady and confident return. Yen Thu's next major goal is to improve her ranking in the 42.195km race at the 2026 National Sports Games.

Yen Thu (left) competing in the VnExpress Marathon Danang. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

Yen Thu (left) competing in the VnExpress Marathon Danang. Photo: VnExpress Marathon

Yen Thu's experience in Danang sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some criticizing her for overexertion and others supporting her as an inspiration.

Thu responded calmly to the public discourse. "Those who made negative comments may not understand because they don't follow professional sports. I consider those comments meaningless and don't let them bother me. I use the encouraging words as motivation to strive harder," she shared.

After her win in Hoi An, Yen Thu will train for the next race at the VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong in December. However, the 20-year-old runner remains humble about her long-term goals. "I've only been running marathons for over a year, so I want to gain experience and gradually improve my performance," she said.

Vinh San