The Grand Tour Nghe An, a newly launched race in the VnExpress Marathon series, features a course stretching from Vinh city center to Cua Lo beach. The 42km course, the longest distance, is divided into three main sections: roads within Vinh city center, Vinh - Cua Lo boulevard, and Binh Minh coastal road.

Nguyen Dac Hung, who holds a personal record of 2h 41m 16s for the 42km distance, stated: "All three road sections are wide, flat, and of good quality. Runners will not have to jostle or worry about injuries from potholes. If it is sunny, runners might experience sun exposure on their necks when running the Vinh - Cua Lo boulevard section returning to the center, which could lead to fatigue. However, this is unlikely to happen as the race day forecast predicts rain and cooler temperatures."

Nguyen Dac Hung during a training session. Photo: Provided by subject

Nguyen Dac Hung during a training session. Photo: Provided by subject

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Nghe An is expected to have showers on the morning of 27/9, which will help runners stay cool on the course. However, temperatures between 27-32 degrees Celsius and humid conditions will require runners to focus on hydration and proper pace management to avoid early exhaustion.

"Runners should actively replenish water and electrolytes, listen to their bodies, and adjust their pace accordingly. When running in Nghe An, people do not need to worry much about road quality. Instead, they should focus on distributing their energy to avoid running out of breath in the final kilometers," advised Dang Thi Viet, who will compete in two distances, 21km and 5km, addressing runners from other provinces.

Dac Hung advised 42km runners to reduce their speed during the final 2-3km of Vinh - Cua Lo boulevard before joining Binh Minh road. He noted that strong headwinds would blow against the running direction in this section. Wind is also a critical factor to consider when running the coastal route.

Vinh - Cua Lo boulevard facing the sea, where runners may encounter headwinds. Photo: Duc Hung

Vinh - Cua Lo boulevard facing the sea, where runners may encounter headwinds. Photo: Duc Hung

"This season, the wind at Cua Lo beach is quite strong. Runners should seek out a pace group to counter both headwinds and crosswinds. Additionally, the Binh Minh road section has two U-turn points. Runners should be cautious at these two sections as the wind can hinder speed adjustments," noted the runner born in 1987.

At the VnExpress Marathon Grand Tour Nghe An, Dac Hung will serve as a sub3h30 pacer for the full marathon. He hopes his experience on his home course will benefit other runners.

"The most important thing is to run according to your own plan, not to get carried away by others' pace. In my opinion, a marathon should be divided into phases: control, maintain, and only accelerate in the final kilometers if your body still has energy," he said.

Sharing the same view, Dang Viet advised that first-time runners in Nghe An should not let the lively atmosphere and excitement in the initial kilometers cause them to run faster than planned. Proper energy distribution will help maintain stamina in the latter half of the race.

The VnExpress Marathon Grand Tour Nghe An 2026 will take place early on 27/9, featuring 4 distances: 5km, 10km, 21km, and 42km. The race attracts runners from many localities, including athletes familiar with the courses in the North Central region.

Thai Anh