VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon 2026 recently unveiled the competition courses for its three distances: 5km, 10km, and 21km. The event is scheduled for 13/9, with an expected participation of 8,000 athletes. Continuing from previous seasons, the organizers have preserved many familiar routes of the coastal city. Nguyen Tat Thanh Square will serve as the start and finish point for all runners.

Having all three distances start and finish at a single location helps to concentrate the event's atmosphere around the coastal area. From this central point, athletes can quickly access main roads and sections running close to the seashore, a characteristic image associated with VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon over many seasons.

Nguyen Tat Thanh Square continues to be the start and finish point for the VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon 2026 course. *Photo: VnExpress Marathon*

A common feature across all three distances is the wide, open roads, with many kilometers running close to the sea. The 21km distance is this season's longest challenge, scheduled to start at 4h. From Nguyen Tat Thanh Square, runners will traverse An Duong Vuong, Tay Son, Xuan Dieu, Vo Nguyen Giap, and other routes before returning to the central area.

This early start time means the initial part of the race will occur while it is still dark. As they cover subsequent kilometers, runners will gradually welcome the morning light along the coastal streets. This period also sees lighter traffic in Quy Nhon compared to daytime.

21km athletes have three and a half hours to complete the race. Two cut-off times (COT) are set: at 8,7km at 5h30 and at 18km at 7h. The entire course closes at 7h30.

For the 10km distance, athletes will start at 5h from the same location at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square. The route overlaps with many streets of the 5km course but is extended to cover the required distance. Runners must pass the cut-off time at 8km before 6h40 and finish before the course closes at 7h. With two hours of competition, athletes can manage their energy according to their goals, from an experiential run to improving personal bests.

The 5km distance starts latest, at 5h30. After the signal at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square, runners will proceed along An Duong Vuong street, then turn back on Tay Son. Athletes will return to An Duong Vuong, continue past Xuan Dieu, before finishing at the square.

The 5km course closes at 6h45, allowing athletes a maximum of one hour and 15 minutes to complete it. This is the shortest distance, suitable for new runners. Many athletes also choose the 5km to experience the event's atmosphere without aiming for longer distances.

The 5km race course. *Photo: VnExpress Marathon*

The 10km course at VM Quy Nhon. *Photo: VnExpress Marathon*

The coastal course for the 21km distance. *Photo: VnExpress Marathon*

Compared to the previous season, the two longer distances have later start times. The 21km distance shifted from 3h30 to 4h, and the 10km distance from 4h15 to 5h. The 5km distance retains its 5h30 schedule.

Inheriting most of the previous season's route also provides a certain familiarity for returning athletes. Runners can draw on past experiences to strategize their energy distribution, identifying sections to maintain pace or accelerate. For those visiting Quy Nhon for the first time, the course offers a journey to explore the city, from its central axis to its coastal areas.

Thy An