VnExpress Marathon All-Star 2026, the first and only marathon in Vietnam to apply qualifying standards, announced its pacer selection criteria, implementing rigorous data and discipline benchmarks similar to those of World Marathon Majors events.

Specifically, organizers require a five-minute safety margin for both full marathon and half marathon pacers. Sub-3 marathon pacers (targeting three hours) must have a personal record (PR) under 2 hours 55 minutes within the last 12-18 months. For the half marathon distance, sub-1:30 pacers need a minimum performance of 1 hour 25 minutes.

Sub-3 pacer group leading the pace at VM All-Star 2025. Photo: VnExpress Marathon.

Duong Hai Anh, Race Director for the VnExpress Marathon (VM) system, stated that this five-minute difference allows pacers sufficient physical reserve to handle situations and maintain a steady pace, rather than struggling to keep up with the clock. This is a key factor in ensuring safety and accuracy for runners aiming to achieve personal bests.

Beyond performance, pacers must demonstrate endurance through their training volume. Candidates need to accumulate a minimum of 250 km before the race, with verifiable data on Strava or Garmin. Marathon pacers must maintain 55-70 km per week, including long runs of 28-32 km. Additionally, pacers are required to adhere to team discipline, setting aside personal achievements to serve the overall goal of the race.

At World Marathon Majors events, including Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York, pacers undergo stringent selection. The performance margin can even extend to 15-20 minutes. This is because pacers must ensure they run at an "easy" pace, allowing them to cheer, encourage, grab water, and handle incidents without their heart rate becoming too elevated.

Dao Ba Tuan (Bib 90299) is one of two official sub-3 pacers for VM All-Star 2025. Photo: VnExpress Marathon.

In Vietnam, dozens of marathon events occur annually, but sub-3 pacers are rare. Implementing a five-minute performance margin in selection criteria is even rarer. This indicates that VM is placing high professional demands on its All-Star pacers, requiring them to be in peak form at the time of the race, not just relying on past achievements.

Furthermore, tactical thinking aligns with major races. While the Chicago Marathon is known for its discipline of even split pacing on flat courses, the New York City Marathon requires pacers to run with "even effort" to conquer its hilly bridges. Given the terrain of VM All-Star in Hoa Lac, the ability to maintain an even split pace will be a benchmark for a pacer's caliber.

"At all VM system races, we consider pacers an integral part of our professional operational structure. Therefore, similar requirements apply to other sub-time targets," Duong Hai Anh said.

Lan Anh

The VnExpress Marathon All-Star 2026 will take place on 8/2. To qualify for the race, male athletes must complete 42 km in under 4 hours or 21 km in under 2 hours; female athletes must finish a full marathon in under 5 hours or a half marathon in under 2 hours 30 minutes. Registration is open until 23/1. Interested athletes can verify their performance here.