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Tra Giang (born 1995 in Ha Tinh province) currently lives and works in Hanoi. She started running by practicing walking every morning to improve her work efficiency.
“I learned about and started participating in running races online, and then met and connected with many people in running clubs near where I live. After that, we gradually increased both the distance and speed. It was a slow process, and now running has quietly been a part of my life for three years,” Tra Giang shared with Travellive.
For Tra Giang, every weekend, in addition to participating in running races, she combines it with traveling to explore new places and meet new friends. Currently, thanks to running, she has traveled to quite a few provinces, discovering new routes and beautiful scenery.
Tra Giang turned to running as a way to improve her physical fitness and mental well-being.
When running is also a form of travel.
Often, while engrossed in running, Tra Giang didn't pay much attention to the scenery, preferring to admire it afterward because photographers along the route captured the moments. The main experience was interacting with people while running – fellow runners from all over the country encouraging and chatting with each other, or receiving cheers and welcomes from the locals. All of these are memorable moments for her.
Tra Giang recounted: “The most recent trip I made to Lai Chau was quite tiring, and it wasn't the most beautiful place I've ever been to. But I was very impressed by the people of Lai Chau because they are honest and hospitable. While running, we received enthusiastic encouragement from the locals, free water along the way, children constantly shouting 'Go for it,' and even soldiers cheering us on… The air was fresh and the weather that day was very cool. Running on a challenging, steep road was a test, but also unforgettable. In addition, the cost of food and hotels here is quite cheap. At night, we didn't have to worry about our motorbikes being stolen; we even joked that it was 'unique and amazing in Lai Chau.' At midnight, we asked a taxi driver for directions to a snail restaurant, and he gave us a free ride. Very kind.”
Thanks to running, she has traveled to many provinces and cities, explored new routes, and made new friends.
To date, Tra Giang has participated in over 40 running races and has been fortunate enough to win more than 25 awards. In 2022, she competed in 15 full 42km marathons, the most memorable of which was participating alongside 200 runners accompanying the SEA Games 31 at My Dinh Stadium…
Whenever there's a race in a distant location, Tra Giang always takes advantage of the trip to check in or enjoy the local specialties. She compares these races to regular travel, only with the added benefit of experiencing new routes. In Hanoi, running is mostly limited to parks, which are often crowded, while the routes in the provinces offer a refreshing change that runners enjoy. Sometimes, just being able to run on those routes is a great source of happiness for Tra Giang.
Each race is also an opportunity for Tra Giang to explore new lands.
Secrets to the perfect running trip
According to Tra Giang, preparing to participate in a race in a province or city requires quite a lot of preparation. She also shared some basic tips that athletes often keep in mind before participating in a race.
Running Bib (race number for each athlete):To participate in the race, you need to purchase a bib, which the organizers will sell on their fan pages/website. The earlier you buy, the cheaper the price. Runners who buy in groups early usually get the best discounted prices.
Plane/bus/train tickets:You'll need to book your plane tickets early, just like for regular travel; if you're traveling by car/train, you don't need to book early, but if you're participating in a long-distance race, long-distance travel can be quite tiring, so you should consider choosing a suitable mode of transportation.
Hotel:Runners often travel in groups, so they'll book hotels together, which needs to be booked one to several months in advance, depending on the race.
These are three basic things you need to prepare for before participating in a long-distance race. Costs vary depending on the location, and the preparation differs from regular travel only in that you need to purchase a race bib in advance.
"Running races usually attract several thousand participants, so traveling and having fun as a runner is very different from sightseeing. The emotions and spirit of participating in a race in a place with beautiful scenery are hard to describe; I'd say it's exhilarating," Tra Giang said excitedly.
Running is not only a sport that improves physical health, but it also requires willpower.
In addition, Tra Giang also shared five important steps to keep in mind when participating in a running race, which she usually prepares for.
Schedule:Each race will have a schedule from start to finish, taking place and concluding on a Sunday morning. The remaining time can be planned for pre- and post-race activities, depending on your individual goals, whether you aim for a good result, run for aesthetics, or simply enjoy the experience.
Health:Runners typically need to train to be fit enough to complete distances of 5, 10, 21, and 42 km. Health is crucial; everyone should focus on healthy recreation, eating nutritious food, and getting enough sleep to be in the best physical condition for the race.
Finance:Travel, accommodation, and shopping expenses are things you need to calculate in advance to plan for.
Belongings:Pack the necessary items as you would for a trip, and runners should bring extra clothes, running shoes, a hat, gloves, socks, sunglasses, and nutritional supplements for optimal running performance.
Run to explore new routes and lands.
Next, invite your friends to join you, so you have someone to run with, take photos with, or wait to film you at the finish line. Finally, open your heart to everyone around you because you'll meet many new people along the way who are willing to run with you to the finish line, laugh a lot, talk a lot, and spread a positive and cheerful spirit.
Today, integrating tourism into running events, allowing tourists and athletes to have authentic discoveries and experiences, is becoming increasingly popular through marathon races.
Tra Giang believes that everyone has their own way of discovering new things. She wants her feet to set foot on all the provinces and cities of Vietnam, to experience it rather than just skimming through it. Currently, running events are developing more and more, appearing in provinces and cities everywhere. You should carefully consider choosing a race and a destination to have more new experiences.
Running races usually attract several thousand participants, so traveling and having fun as a runner is quite different from sightseeing.
“Many people participate in long-distance races like me regularly, but for me, prioritizing ‘running’ over ‘playing’ is more important. Therefore, I always train and think about the race more than about where I’ll be visiting. Immersing myself in the race route, focusing on each kilometer, I even forget where I’m running, but there are moments when I suddenly glance to the sides of the road and exclaim, ‘Wow, it’s so beautiful!’ That’s the little romantic moment for a runner who loves running,” Tra Giang shared.
