VnExpress Marathon All-Star unveiled the finisher medal, continuing the "essence of the race" theme, one week after introducing the race kit and finisher shirts.

The VnExpress Marathon All-Star medal features a minimalist design, continuing the spirit of the previous season. *VnExpress Marathon*.

The medal features a metallic gold finish, providing a solid feel. According to the organizers, this design aligns with the All-Star event's positioning as a premier race in the VnExpress Marathon series, emphasizing strict participation criteria and high professional standards.

Departing from ornate designs, the VnExpress Marathon All-Star 2026 medal embraces intentional minimalism. One half of its surface features layered textures, symbolizing the journey of consistent effort. The other half showcases engraved lines forming a star, converging at a point. This design embodies the All-Star spirit, where preparation, discipline, and resolve culminate at the finish line. A subtle texture on the medal's surface enhances visual depth under light.

"We want the medal to symbolize the entire journey, from training discipline to race day resilience," a representative from the organizing committee stated. "Each athlete holding it should clearly feel the value of their achievement."

The reverse side features the "Essence of the Race" message, acknowledging the courage, discipline, and persistence of All-Star finishers. This medal, when paired with the race kit and finisher shirts for the 21km and 42km distances, completes the "Essence of the Race" identity for the 2026 season.

VnExpress Marathon All-Star stands as Vietnam's only marathon with mandatory entry standards. Launched in 5/2024, it boasts one of the nation's highest prize pools, awarding the 42km champion 100 million VND in cash.

The event is considered an ideal venue for athletes aiming to achieve personal bests. Its course, fully closed at Hoa Lac High-Tech Park in Hanoi, is known by the running community as Vietnam's "Temple of Speed" for marathons.

This year, All-Star is scheduled for late January, a period of cooler temperatures in the northern region, to help athletes achieve their best times. Planned start times are 4h30 for the 42km distance and 5h30 for the 21km distance, better aligning with athletes' biological rhythms.

Registration for VnExpress Marathon All-Star 2026 is currently open. Bib prices are 850,000 VND for the 21km distance and 1.15 million VND for the 42km distance. Entry performance standards remain consistent with last year: male athletes must complete 42km in under 4 hours or 21km in under 2 hours; female athletes must finish the full marathon in under 5 hours or the half marathon in under 2 hours 30 minutes.

Additionally, the organizers offer an experiential bib category, limited to 100 slots per distance, with no entry standards. These bibs cost 1.1 million VND for 21km and 1.5 million VND for 42km, and registration closes on 9/1/2026. Interested runners can verify their performance via the provided link.

Hai Long