Mai Trung, Dan Quyet battle for top spot in 42km at VM Nghe An 2026

Ten minutes after leaving Ho Chi Minh Square, the men's 42km race at the VnExpress Marathon Grand Tour Nghe An 2026 entered a real battle. Nguyen Mai Trung and Dan Quyet took turns leading, creating a gap from the rest. At 3h10, Mai Trung moved ahead of Dan Quyet by about 10m. While Mai Trung ran with focus and a steady rhythm, Dan Quyet remained relaxed and even waved to the camera. The distance is still small, but enough to create tension. Nguyen Mai Trung, 35, from Hanoi, works in e-commerce and is a member of Thanh Cong Runners Club. He made his mark at the VnExpress Marathon Hai Phong 2026 with a time of 2 hours 41 minutes 55 seconds. That result places him 69th among the fastest full marathon runners in Vietnam history. Dan Quyet is one of the strongest candidates in the longest distance. Together with Dao Ba Thanh and Le Van Huong, this group quickly broke away after the 3h start. Three runners moving ahead from the start shows clear podium ambitions, not just finishing. In the women's race, surprise came when My Hien, a local runner from Nghe An Runners, took the lead. She owns a personal best of 3 hours 7 minutes 39 seconds. A local athlete holding the lead makes the women's race more attractive. The event is held for the first time in Nghe An, the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh, with four distances 5km, 10km, 21km and 42km. All runners start from Ho Chi Minh Square and finish on Truong Thi street, at the intersection with Le Van Huu street. The 42km route takes athletes through Ho Tung Mau, Truong Thi, Le Nin avenue, then into Vinh - Cua Lo avenue. After about 16km, runners head to Binh Minh route, along Cua Lo beach, and turn back at Cua Xa. The 21km distance starts at 4h, following Ho Tung Mau - Truong Thi - Le Nin avenue, then straight on Vinh - Cua Lo avenue. Runners turn around near km 11 and return to the center. This distance has two COT checkpoints at km 10 at 5h40 and km 16.9 at 6h50; the route closes at 7h30. The 10km distance starts at 5h, turns around near km 5; the COT checkpoint is at km 6 at 6h15 and the route closes at 7h. The 5km distance takes place entirely in the city center, starting at 6h, passing Ho Tung Mau, Truong Thi, Le Nin avenue, then turning back to Truong Thi and finishing at the Le Van Huu intersection. This distance has no COT, and the route closes at 7h15. Before the start, the atmosphere at Ho Chi Minh Square was lively. Besides elite runners, local clubs such as Nghe An Runner and Ha Tinh Runner appeared in bright pink shirts. Many runners chatted with each other before entering the race. Thanh Meo, from Vinh Runner, said this race has fewer 42km runners than many other events. According to him, this makes it easier to compete for a high position or set a personal record. He also described the Nghe An route as favorable, with a beautiful road and easy pace control. Race operations were prepared early with hundreds of volunteers working with the operation team at many positions. Police, traffic police and local medical staff were mobilized to ensure security, regulate vehicles and provide medical support along the route. From the evening of September 26, volunteers gathered at the start area to receive assignments and learn the procedures. They were deployed to points along the route to install infrastructure, complete water stations and cheer zones. VnExpress Marathon Grand Tour Nghe An distributed bibs at the Nghe An Labor Cultural House on September 25 and 26. This is the first time a VnExpress Marathon event has taken place in the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh. Observations from the course show that Mai Trung and Dan Quyet held a higher pace than the rest from the early kilometers. Mai Trung tends to use a shorter stride with a faster cadence. Dan Quyet runs with longer strides and relaxed shoulders. Sprinting ability will matter when the two runners reach the coastal area. For My Hien, the biggest advantage is her familiarity with the route. The local runner knows the turns, slopes and water station locations. If she remains stable, she can keep leading the women's race. However, a 42km race always carries physical risks, especially when the course lasts more than three hours. This year's race also brings together many strong running clubs. Nghe An Runner, Ha Tinh Runner and teams from Hanoi and Vinh create competition in each distance. Even though the 42km field is smaller, the professional quality is not low. The leading group showed careful preparation in training plans, nutrition and race tactics. On the 21km route, elite runners started at 4h. The COT checkpoint at km 16.9 at 6h50 is a challenge for slower groups. For 10km runners, reaching km 6 before 6h15 helps avoid disqualification. These checkpoints were clearly announced in the technical guide. Weather was also mentioned by runners during warm-up. Running at dawn reduces the impact of heat, but requires a proper warm-up before entering the course. Many runners chose a light warm-up to keep a stable heart rate and prepare for a fast opening phase. During the first ten minutes, the pace of the two leading runners was quite even. Mai Trung kept a safe gap and did not let Dan Quyet get too close. When they reach the coastal section, tactics may change. If someone accelerates around Cua Xa, the race could quickly be decided. But if the sea wind is too strong, they may choose to stay together to save energy. The organizers placed the finish line on Truong Thi street, at the intersection with Le Van Huu street. A quick update at 3h10 showed Mai Trung leading Dan Quyet by about 10m, while My Hien was leading the women's race. The race still has a long way to go, and the next developments will decide the title in the toughest distance of the VnExpress Marathon Grand Tour Nghe An 2026.