VMM 2018 - 42km Trail Race

Race - Sep 21, 2019

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This is a very hard but stunning marathon for the experienced runner who is looking for a real challenge. The race course is located in the town of Sa Pá town, a very beautiful and quiet location in the north of Vietnam.

TOPAS will provide full service during the race days. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. and there is a bus to the start. This race is open to experienced runners at least 18 years old on race day, who have completed at least 1 marathon.

The 42km race is a 2-new-points qualifying race for Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.

This is a very hard but beautiful course for the experienced runner who is looking for a challenge. The trail will lead you of the beaten track to areas which are rarely visited by people other than locals. First, warm up by running uphill a few kilometers on a remote asphalt road before turning into an old path and heading down into the slippery jungle on a trail connecting villages in two valleys. This is the land of both Black Hmong and Red Dao minorities.

The course then runs through their small wooden village gates and, hopefully, you'll see if it is the season for harvesting rice. The first climb is serious and will require fast walking for some sections. The trail goes round a mountain covered by rice fields and a forest, and then descends into the limestone valley of Ta Phin. Soon, runners will connect to the half marathon route when crossing the main road.

Expect your time to be about double compared to a flat race! You must bring water and extra energy. If you are still racing at 5:30 p.m. and do not have a headlamp, you'll be cut off.

The Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM) is held by TOPAS annually. This 2018 VMM is very popular since there's also an UpRace challenge just one month before the race. The challenge is to motivate people to run, and to raise fund for Newborns Vietnam NGO. Spots are sold out very soon, and people bid for the spots.