The "81-Year Journey - For National Security" running race was held on the morning of 2/8 at NovaWorld Phan Thiet, Lam Dong. It featured over 5,000 athletes competing across four distances: 5km, 10km, 21km, and 42km. This event is part of the Sports Festival 2026 series, commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Vietnam People's Public Security tradition.

Pham Ngoc Phan (right) closely competes with Truong Van Tam during the race on 2/8. Photo: VnExpress Marathon.

Pham Ngoc Phan of Lam Dong finished first in the men's marathon, clocking 2 hours 39 minutes 16 seconds. A year earlier, he secured second place in the 21km event during the race's inaugural edition, with a time of 1 hour 14 minutes 10 seconds.

This year, with the full marathon distance introduced for the first time, Ngoc Phan registered. He employed a strategy of staying close to the leading group for the initial 30km, leveraging his familiarity with the terrain to conserve energy. He then accelerated from the 33km mark to establish a lead. "Winning on my home ground, at a race commemorating 81 years of the People's Public Security force, brings me a very special feeling," he shared.

In the women's event, Nguyen Thi Be Ha secured first place with a time of 3 hours 38 minutes 49 seconds. She led from early on, establishing a 500 m gap over the chasing group and maintaining her advantage for most of the race. The biggest challenge emerged after the 32km mark, as the sun and wind significantly depleted her stamina. Despite not achieving her target of 3 hours 31 minutes, Be Ha held her leading position to the finish line.

Le Thi Bich wins the women's 21km event. Photo: Quynh Tran.

In the men's 21km distance, Bui Van Dung finished first with a time of 1 hour 18 minutes 39 seconds. The hilly course presented considerable challenges for the athlete from Thanh Hoa.

"I am not naturally strong on hilly terrain, so I trained for this event for many months. When my leg encountered an issue at the 16km mark, I slowed down, then utilized the flat sections to resume my preferred running pace," Dung stated.

Le Thi Bich secured the top position in the women's 21km event with a time of 1 hour 27 minutes 32 seconds. The triathlete from Thanh Hoa proactively broke away from the group early, maintaining a moderate pace for the first 6-8 km before increasing her tempo from the 8km to 16km mark.

The long uphill section from the 10km to 12km mark, coupled with high humidity following the rain, significantly depleted Bich's stamina. However, her strategy of establishing an early lead allowed her to maintain her advantage to the finish line. The athlete noted that the coastal scenery provided a new experience, and the race medal became a memorable milestone.

Beyond the athletic achievements, all four champions emphasized the significance of competing in an event linked to the tradition of the People's Public Security. The challenging course, coastal scenery, and the support from marshals and volunteers created a unique impression for this year's race.

Athletes with top results at the awards ceremony. Photo: VnExpress Marathon.

Pham Minh Thi of Lam Dong claimed the men's 10km title, while Le Thi Kim Phuong secured the women's title. In the 5km distance, Nguyen Van Chinh became the men's champion with 17 minutes 02 seconds. Nguyen Thi Hiep successfully defended her 5km women's championship, building on her success from the 2025 season.

For the 42km distance, the overall first prize totals 10.422 million VND, comprising 10 million VND in cash and a set of Duoc Dong A products. The second prize is valued at 8.422 million VND, and the third prize at 6.422 million VND, both including cash and corresponding product sets.

In addition to the overall prize, the 42km distance also features an age group prize system for under 30, 31-39, and 40-49, applied separately for men and women. The first prize in each age group is valued at 4.922 million VND, the second prize receives 3.5 million VND in cash, and the third prize receives 3 million VND in cash.

Hoang Dan