About 2,000 professional and movement runners from over 10 countries and territories are expected to participate in the Son Tra Run Challenge 2023 which is slated to take place on the Son Tra Peninsula, Da Nang, on December 23 - 24.
The Son Tra Run Challenge 2023, the first of its kind held on the Son Tra Peninusla, promises to bring interesting and exciting experience to participating athletes.
The sporting event, co-organised by the Son Tra District authorities and the Viet Nam Television Center in the Central Region - Central Highlands (VTV8), aims to raise public awareness on sea and island environmental protection.
According to Mr. Truong Duy Hoa, Deputy Director of VTV8, the tournament, the first of its kind held on the Son Tra Peninusla, promises to bring interesting and exciting experience to participating athletes.
He added marathon running is increasingly becoming popular. However, compared to other running events, the VTV8 Son Tra Run Challenge 2023 features highlights of the running route in harmony with green nature, and the tournament to be broadcast live on the VTV8 channel for the first time.
The race consists the 6km, 16km and 26km runs, providing the runners with an opportunity to race through the most beautiful roads with extraordinary natural landscapes of the Son Tra Peninsula, the precious jewel of the central beach city and home to many rare animals and plants such as red-shanked douc langurs, a rare species deemed the "Queen of Primates".
Accordingly, runners will start at an intersection of Hoang Sa and Vu Ngoc Nha streets, then go straight towards the Ben Thuyen Restaurant, turn left onto Le Van Luong Street, turn right onto Luong Huu Khanh Street, go straight into a road leading up the peninsula, turn right towards the Ga Rung Restaurant, and go straight to the foot of the stairs at the Ban Co (Chess Board) Peak.
After that, athletes will take stairs to the top of the Ban Co Peak and turn around to Luong Huu Khanh Street, turn left onto Le Van Luong Street, turn right onto Hoang Sa Street and reach the finish line at the finish gate on Truong Sa Street.
“To ensure the safety of the athletes, the organisers will set up relay stations and provide medical care for needy athletes. In addition, a number of exciting side activities will be organised, aiming to help runners have the opportunity to enjoy many local cultural features" Mr. Hoa said.
As for prize structure, in the 26km event, the runner who finishes first will receive a trophy and VND7 million in cash. The second and third prize winners will be given trophies and VND5 million and VND3 million respectively.
In the 16km event, the first finisher will be awarded with a trophy and a cash prize of VND6 million. Trophies and cash prizes of VND4 and VND2 million will go to runners who will finish in the second and third places.
In the 6km event, the first prize winner will receive a trophy and VND5 million, whilst the second and third prize winners will be given trophies and VND2.5 million and VND1.5 million respectively.
Mr. Huynh Van Hung, Vice Chairman of the Son Tra District People's Committee noted the race is expected to promote physical training movement while calling on the locals, tourists to join hands to protect the country’s sea and island environment, promote the beauty of Viet Nam’s tourism, and arouse the sense of cherishing and protecting nature and wildlife.
Reporting by Phi Nong - Translating by M.Dung