Coming home from Challenge Vietnam, I found myself wishing I could have seen more of Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City, as it’s officially known these days.
Well, in January I’ll get my wish: I’m heading back for the Ho Chi Minh City Run on January 15, 2017. With 5K, 10K, 21K, and 42K distances as well as a kids dash, there’s something for everybody.
the Kids Dash
I’m aiming for the half-marathon as it puts something on the table for me to train for without overtaxing my body. A half-marathon is also a great way to see the highlights of a city without completely killing the legs for more sightseeing in the afternoon. Lastly, it burns enough calories so I can indulge in pho bo, banh mi, and my favorite ca phe sua da (Vietnamese coffee).
over the Phu My bridge
This race has steadily been growing since Pulse Active first started putting on a fun run in 2013 as a revival of the former Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon. Vietnamese runners have moved from the short and fun 5K all the way up to the longer competitive distances, and the organizers heeded calls to put on a full marathon distance. This is the first time in 25 years that a full marathon will be run in Saigon!
some of Vietnam’s seriously competitive runners
“We are proud to bring a Marathon to Ho Chi Minh City and we see it as our mission to contribute to a healthier and more active sporting community, as well as to the tourism and sport development of our country. The HCMC Run – The City Marathon 2017 is akin to its host city – Dynamic, Active and Full of Energy, and this is what we aim to show the world,” said Mr. Bady Pham, Managing Director of Pulse Active.
Early bird registration ends this week on October 31 so if you want to save up to 10 USD on the registration fee, now is a good time to sign up. Sign up for the HCMC Run here.
Watch the video from last year’s edition below:
For more information about the Ho Chi Minh City Run: The City Marathon, check out their website (in English) or follow HCMC Run on Facebook.
