On the morning of 27/9, among 7,000 participants in the VnExpress Marathon Grand Tour Nghe An, Nguyen Thi An (Tue An, born in 1984) embarked on a special journey. After 24 years away from Nghe An, she returned to run for the first time on her hometown roads, taking on the role of a pacer for the 21km group.

A pacer, or pace leader, is a runner who maintains a steady speed according to a predetermined time, helping athletes in the group manage their energy and achieve personal goals. At the race, An was the only female pacer, guiding the 21km group with a target time of 2h 15 minutes.

Tue An (wearing glasses) strides on the running path. VnExpress Marathon

Tue An (wearing glasses) strides on the running path. VnExpress Marathon

Nghe Land is not only her birthplace but also connected to An throughout her life through her name. Her parents named her after her place of birth. Her older brother, born in Vinh Long, was named Long, while she carries the name of Nghe Land.

An left Nghe An at age 18, spending most of her time studying and building a career in Ha Noi and TP HCM. Her previous visits home were mainly for holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), or work-related trips.

She began running in 2023 and participated in many races across different localities, but had never run in her hometown. Therefore, upon learning that VnExpress Marathon was organizing an event in Nghe An, An quickly registered. This also marked her first time serving as a pacer in a race within this series.

"I wanted to return, run alongside others, maintain a steady pace, and help friends, relatives, and fellow Nghe An runners achieve their personal goals," An said.

Rescheduling work for her duty

Her decision to return home meant An had to rearrange her work and family life. She learned about the race approximately a month before the event, at a time when she already had a client meeting scheduled in Vung Tau. An rescheduled her business trip to early October to dedicate time to Nghe An.

Tue An is the race's only female pacer. VnExpress Marathon

Tue An is the race's only female pacer. VnExpress Marathon

At home, she also prepared for her two children's studies and daily activities, encouraging them to be more independent during her absence.

Before the race, An met with local runners, sharing breakfast, coffee, and discussing the course and strategies. The group included runners for 5km, 10km, 21km, and 42km distances, ranging from new participants to experienced athletes. After many years living away from home, this was an opportunity for her to connect with Nghe Land's running community.

The role of pacer for the 2h 15 minutes mark was not a major challenge for An, as this pace is slower than her daily easy running speed. Her main focus was familiarizing herself with the course and supporting the runners in her group.

An also hoped that runners from other provinces and cities would gain a new perspective on Nghe An through the race route.

"I felt both nervous and excited," she shared. "This is the first time I'm exploring familiar roads, previously traveled by other means, now on my own two feet."

A family meal after the finish line

This return to Nghe An was more than just a pacer duty for An. Waiting for her at the finish line were relatives who had been a part of her childhood. After the race, Tue An was also greeted with a family meal and heartfelt conversations.

Tue An takes a photo with her mother and relatives after the race. VnExpress Marathon

Tue An takes a photo with her mother and relatives after the race. VnExpress Marathon

The race therefore became a personal milestone in An's running journey: her first time pacing at VnExpress Marathon, and also her first time running in her hometown since she began running in 2023.

Before the race on the morning of 27/9, An had previously served as a pacer at several races in the Southern region. She placed second overall in the 21km at Cat Tien Jungle Paths 2023, second in the 15km Pink Run 2024, first in her age group for the 5km Eximbank Midnight 2025, and second in her age group for the 42km Ca Mau Marathon 2025.

An has no plans to participate in any more races this year due to a busy work schedule. She stated that if VnExpress Marathon returns to Nghe An, she would register to run as a participant, as the beautiful course makes personal bests achievable.

Thai Anh