Manuel Aliprandi and Vũ Thị Lan Hương win at Việt Nam Trail Marathon

Manuel Aliprandi from Italy won the men’s  七0km race at the Việt Nam Trail Marathon. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

Marathon

MỘC CHÂU — Manuel Aliprandi from Italy won the men’s  七0km race at the Việt Nam Trail Marathon (VTM) held in Mộc Châu Town, Mộc Châu District, Sơn La Province on Saturday.

“It was very random for me to participate in the VTM  二0 二 三. My girlfriend and I were having a holiday in Việt Nam when we accidentally found the race. We then decided to reschedule the whole trip to take part in it,” Aliprandi said.

“I do not regret this decision. The race was amazing. The scenery is beautiful and pristine. The locals are super friendly. In addition, all staff at the VTM make it better with their friendliness and helpful support. The atmosphere is unique at the VTM, and I would say it was not something that you see every day!” Aliprandi added.

The female winner of  七0km was Vũ Thị Lan Hương. She earned second place at the VTM  二0 二 二 and Việt Nam Jungle Marathon  二0 二 二 at a  七0km distance. VTM  二0 二 三 is her first win at Việt Nam Trail Series (VTS).

Vũ Thị Lan Hương, the female winner of the  七0km category. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

Hương said: “I am so happy. The weather is amazing here in Mộc Châu, and I have great participants running with me. The VTM  二0 二 三 is meaningful to me as it is my first win at a VTS race. Thank you, Topas, for having organised all the races very professionally. All routes had great scenery and clear markings, making all runners feel assured to complete the race with their best performance!”

The VTM  二0 二 三 also created lovely memories and stories for the participants.

One of them was the story of Nguyễn Hữu Trí, a popular Vietnamese Youtuber and a runner. Having participated in three seasons of the Việt Nam Trail Marathon this year, he returned at the  四 二km distance and shared an adorable story at the race.

After running for the first  一 一km, Trí got injured and could not wear his shoes anymore, so he was looking for a place to borrow flip-flops. Lucky for Trí, an “auntie” on the way brought him the only pair in her house, even though he did not carry any money.

Trí shared: “I was so grateful for them that I kissed her on the cheeks. She was surprised because of my reaction and gave me a big smile. If she did not give me the flip-flops, I would have never been able to complete the race! They were the only pair in her house, and she gave them to me. This tells you a lot about the support of Mộc Châu people for the VTM, and I believe this story will stay with me forever.”

At this year’s race, famous runners such as actor Nhan Phúc Vinh running  七0km and  四 二km runner Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã, the first Vietnamese woman to climb Everest, also took part in the event.

Vinh ran the  二 一km distance at the VTM  二0 二 一,  七0km at the VJM  二0 二 二 and the VTM  二0 二 三. He gained interest in running for Topas from a conversation with Operation Smiles.

Vinh said: “I started running when I had a talk to Việt from Operation Smile, which convinced me to run Topas races. Besides the ambitions of running like other runners, running is a way to raise funds for children via this organisation. Since then, I do not feel there is any reason not to run. Therefore, I participated in the Việt Nam Jungle Marathon in Pù Luông and then the VTM. The running results also started improving since I started running more. I will return and hopefully make it a motivation for other runners to run for a good cause!”

On Saturday, Mộc Châu welcomed thousands of runners racing up to  七0km. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

On Saturday, Mộc Châu welcomed thousands of runners racing up to  七0km on stunning trails in remote mountains and through minority villages and blossom-filled orchards. Plus, money raised goes to local neo-natal care and poor households.

Established in  二0 一 九, the VTM has grown to become one of the largest mountain runs in the nation, with  三, 五00 runners taking part this year.

Since it began, the race has brought more than  一 三,000 runners to experience the warm hospitality and stunning scenery of Mộc Châu.

A runner competes at the Việt Nam Trail Marathon. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

The Việt Nam Trail Series has raised around US$ 三 九0,000 (VNĐ 九. 二 billion) for good causes.

“This year, the money raised will be used for projects at Mộc Châu hospitals alongside improving the houses of poor families in the area around the racecourse,” said David Lloyd, Race Director at Topas Việt Nam Trail Series.

The next Topas race will be the  一0th anniversary of the nation’s first-ever ultra-trail, the Việt Nam Mountain Marathon, established in  二0 一 三. VNS