Vietnam Police 81st Anniversary Marathon: Key Details for Participants

The "Journey of 81 Years - For National Security" marathon, commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Vietnam People's Public Security, is set to take place on August 2nd at NovaWorld Phan Thiet (Tien Thanh, Lam Dong Province). Thousands of runners are expected to compete across four distances: 5km, 10km, 21km, and 42km. Ahead of the event, the organizing committee is emphasizing the importance for participants to be aware of race kit collection schedules, start times, and cut-off times (COT) for each distance. Race kits, including bibs and timing chips, can be collected on August 1st from 9 AM to 6 PM at the Bikini Beach Square, NovaWorld Phan Thiet. Organizers recommend early arrival to complete procedures, verify all items in the race kit, and familiarize themselves with the starting area and event facilities. The race day officially begins in the early hours of August 2nd. The baggage drop opens at 2:30 AM for all categories. Start times are staggered: 4:00 AM for the Full Marathon (42km), 4:15 AM for the Half Marathon (21km), 5:30 AM for the 10km, and 6:00 AM for the 5km. All races will commence from Bikini Beach Square. Participants are advised to arrive at least 45-60 minutes before their respective start times to drop off belongings, warm up, and position themselves. Strict cut-off times are in place for each distance. The 5km course closes at 7:15 AM, and the 10km at 7:30 AM. For the 21km, cut-off points are set at 5:55 AM at the 10km mark and 7:25 AM at the 18.7km mark, with the course closing at 7:45 AM. The Full Marathon has four cut-off points: 5:30 AM at 10km, 6:45 AM at 18.1km, 8:15 AM at 28.2km, and 10:00 AM at 39.8km, with the entire 42km course closing at 10:30 AM. After finishing, runners should note that the baggage claim area closes at 10:30 AM. The awards ceremony will be held from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Binh Thuan Hall - Trung Duong Restaurant, NovaWorld Phan Thiet. The event concludes at 12:00 PM. Prize money for the Full Marathon includes a total of VND 10.422 million for the overall male and female winners, comprising VND 10 million in cash and a Dược Đông Á product set. The second prize is VND 8.422 million, and the third prize is VND 6.422 million. In addition to overall awards, the 42km race features age-group prizes for categories under 30, 31-39, and 40-49, for both men and women. The first prize in each age group is valued at VND 4.922 million (VND 4.5 million cash plus a product set). Second place in age groups receives VND 3.5 million, and third place receives VND 3 million in cash. This marathon serves as a tribute to the history of the police force in Vietnam and promotes public health and social cohesion. In Vietnam's one-party system, such large-scale events often serve to showcase national stability and development. As Vietnam continues its economic growth, interest in sporting events is rising, and attracting both domestic and international participants can also stimulate the local economy. In the context of relations with China, such domestic events can underscore national unity, emphasizing the importance of regional stability and cooperation. Source: VnExpress