Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, Vietnam – Ethiopian runner Tesfaye Tsegaye Keress deftly made his approach by way of practically 18,000 individuals to place himself close to the beginning line of the Techcombank Ho Chi Minh Metropolis Worldwide Marathon in December.
Keress stated his diminutive dimension – he stands simply 1.62 metres (5.3ft) tall and weighs about 50kg (116 kilos) – allowed the 27-year-old to slink simply by way of the throngs of runners to safe a strategic spot close to the entrance simply earlier than the beginning pistol was fired, in what was billed as Vietnam’s largest marathon.
Simply days earlier, Keress had landed in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis – Vietnam’s business capital. He was accompanied by fellow Ethiopian runner, Dereje Alemu Miko, who got here to compete within the 21km (13-mile) half-marathon on the occasion the place Keress would run the total 42.1km marathon.
In a contest consisting primarily of 1000’s of native Vietnamese runners, the participation of Keress and Miko instantly stirred curiosity. Native media wished to know who the rivals from East Africa have been.
As Keress advised Al Jazeera, love for the game of operating was not the one motive for his or her journey to Vietnam.
Keress knew that taking first place within the Ho Chi Minh Metropolis marathon would earn him a $2,500 money prize.
Profitable was vital, he stated.
“I’ve a spouse and two sons, and we stay in Sendafa,” Keress stated, naming his hometown in Ethiopia’s Oromia area, about 38km (24 miles) northeast of the capital, Addis Ababa.
“We run a rooster farm and have two cows for milk. We plan to increase our farm utilizing the cash from marathon races,” he stated.
To win, he wouldn’t solely must beat a few of Vietnam’s greatest long-distance runners but in addition Kenya’s Edwin Kiptoo – a fellow East African who at present dominates Vietnam’s marathon operating circuit after successful a string of main races.
Discovering their toes on Vietnam’s streets
Keress may be thought-about a median runner in his native Ethiopia – a rustic that has produced a few of the world’s most famous monitor athletes.
His private greatest velocity to finish a marathon is 2:23:50, which he achieved in 2023 in a marathon in Thailand. Although spectacular, that velocity would nonetheless rule him out of top-tier marathon competitions – the Boston Marathon requires speeds of lower than 2 hours 13 minutes for entrants in its skilled division.
In Vietnam, nonetheless, Keress’s velocity makes him a championship contender in a rustic the place operating has seen a steep rise in recognition.
Over the previous decade, marathons have boomed in Vietnam – a growth partly attributed to the nation’s more and more rich center class searching for methods to maintain match within the nation’s burgeoning large cities. There’s additionally a brand new social facet to operating in Vietnam’s well-attended marathons, in keeping with stories, which have seen a steep rise in recognition because the mid-2010s.
Regardless of a years-long stoop throughout COVID, the recognition of operating got here again even stronger post-pandemic, with many individuals centered on holding wholesome. Native information website VnExpress reported in 2023 {that a} complete of 41 full marathon races, with some 264,000 entrants, occurred in 27 provinces and cities throughout Vietnam that yr. That was 10 extra marathons than have been held in Vietnam in 2022.
With tons of of 1000’s of runners participating in a plethora of marathons up and down this nation of 100 million folks, main personal sponsors have stepped in with prize cash.
Vietnam’s many marathons and profitable prizes of 1000’s of {dollars} for winners are actually attracting high-performing athletes – like Keress and Kiptoo – from the elite operating centres of East Africa.
East African athletes have lengthy been a dominant pressure in aggressive operating, with world-famous monitor stars like Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge – who in 2019 grew to become the primary particular person in recorded historical past to run a 42-km marathon in lower than two hours – and Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie who is taken into account one of many biggest long-distance runners in historical past, having set 27 world information.
Sporting scouts have for years flocked to Kenya and Ethiopia, amongst different East African nations, to determine promising expertise. Offers to compete in competitions around the globe are sometimes mediated by sport brokers, who sponsor a runner and in return could take a minimize of their winnings if profitable. There’s additionally the chance to capitalise on media consideration with product and model offers that race victories accrue for people and operating groups.
Such an association introduced Keress and Miko to compete within the Ho Chi Minh Metropolis marathon and half-marathon in December. They’re each managed by a promoter from Thailand who sponsors a staff of runners and in addition operates an organization specialising in power dietary supplements for athletes.
Marathon operating has additionally taken off in Thailand, together with a rising marketplace for operating gear and different providers. And when runners reminiscent of Keress and Miko win races, there’s a excessive return for sponsoring model names and their services and products.
From prize hunter to superstar athlete in Vietnam
When Edwin Kiptoo – who shouldn’t be confused with one other youthful Kenyan runner with the identical title however of a lot higher worldwide acclaim – first arrived in Vietnam in December 2023, he described how he was initially unprepared for the nation and its prices.
Merely discovering lodging on arrival was difficult for Kiptoo, who arrived with a funds of simply 150,000 Vietnamese dong (lower than $6), hoping to discover a easy place to relaxation one night time earlier than the race. In downtown Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, the most cost effective room Kiptoo may discover was double that worth.
However success appeared to favour Kiptoo when he was befriended by native runner Le Hoan whom he met on the race station the place they went to gather their operating bibs the day earlier than the race. Studying of Kiptoo’s battle to search out someplace low cost to remain, Le Hoan tried to assist in the seek for lodging utilizing a reserving app. Nonetheless no luck.
As Kiptoo had handed Le Hoan his passport through the seek for someplace to remain, the Vietnamese runner noticed that they have been each born in the identical yr, and that the Kenyan’s birthday was on the identical day as his spouse’s. Taking the alignment of dates as an auspicious signal, Le Hoan invited the Kenyan to his dwelling. Over dinner with Le Hoan’s household, Kiptoo advised them how he was operating to help his household and needed to save as a lot as potential.
Le Hoan paid for the runner’s keep in a hostel that night time – on the eve of the large Techcombank Ho Chi Minh Metropolis. The subsequent day, Kiptoo would run sooner than Vietnam’s two greatest marathon runners, Hoang Nguyen Thanh and Nguyen Van Lai, to win the race and pocket a $2,500 money prize on the spot.
“Mr Hoan took me dwelling and provided me meals together with his household. He additionally rented me a hostel room for the night time,” Kiptoo recounted to Al Jazeera. “After I gained my first race, I provided to pay Hoan again however he merely refused,” he stated.
“The generosity of him and his household actually shocked me,” he added.
Kiptoo’s wins and public profile in Vietnam have rocketed since. He rapidly grew to become a star runner in Vietnam and his participation in races is now wanted. His winnings have additionally stacked up, incomes a median of about $1,000 every week for taking first place in races throughout the nation.
However that was just the start.
In October 2024, Kiptoo signed a significant sponsorship contract with sportswear firm Do-Win Vietnam.
The corporate introduced in a celebratory Fb put up the way it had entered “a proper partnership with famend runner Kiptoo!”
“This collaboration will create new breakthroughs and additional strengthen the model’s place within the sports activities trade,” it stated.
The deal covers the runner’s residing bills, competitors entrance charges, and, crucially, secures a visa permitting Kiptoo to compete professionally in Vietnam. Up to now, visas and visa extensions for Africans in Vietnam have been problematic, partly on account of a crackdown on foreigners concerned in crime within the nation.
So having a significant sponsor behind him offers runners reminiscent of Kiptoo a big diploma of safety.
The 38-year-old, whose spouse and daughter are nonetheless in Kenya, has even been given entry to unique, publicly funded sports activities services and assets, that are sometimes reserved for provincial or national-level Vietnamese athletes.
Now free of monetary strain and logistical issues concerning race participation, Kiptoo stated he has been in a position to absolutely dedicate himself to coaching, making him a pressure practically unimaginable to beat in Vietnam’s marathons.
“The help from Vietnamese folks makes me really feel at dwelling,” Kiptoo advised Al Jazeera.
Success in Vietnam has not solely introduced Kiptoo monetary rewards but in addition elevated him to a type of sports activities superstar standing amongst native folks. He has been featured many occasions by native Vietnamese media due to his operating success and his posts on Fb obtain 1000’s of reactions – principally from his Vietnamese followers.
Competing in Vietnam continues to be a bet
A marathon, which normally lasts no less than two hours for top-level runners, inherently carries dangers because it challenges an individual’s bodily and psychological limits.
For African runners competing in Vietnam, challenges exist not solely through the race but in addition within the many twists and turns their skilled journey takes.
In March 2023, runners Kemboi Ezekiel from Kenya and Marta Tinsae Birehan from Ethiopia have been stuffed with hope on getting into a race in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis after listening to that breaking the Vietnamese marathon file would win them a automotive. After arriving within the nation, they found that the automotive prize had been a one-time supply accessible solely within the earlier yr’s race.
Regardless of their disappointment, each runners went on to compete. Whereas Ezekiel confronted little competitors within the males’s race, Marta unexpectedly collapsed whereas main the ladies’s race. She had mistakenly consumed an electrolyte drink at a water station, which upset her digestive system.
Even Kiptoo, with extra expertise and lots of marathon championships below his belt in Vietnam, can not escape challenges. In late 2024, he was sponsored to compete in a marathon in Hanoi. As a consequence of a misunderstanding, a sponsor didn’t register Kiptoo among the many skilled athletes competing. Consequently, regardless of successful the marathon, Kiptoo solely obtained an age-group prize of $200, relatively than the $2,100 winner’s takings. He stated he didn’t need to complain in regards to the final result, saying “all of us must comply with the principles.”
Operating within the Ho Chi Minh Metropolis Marathon in December alongside an already acquainted course and accustomed to the local weather, Kiptoo cruised to victory over Keress and 1000’s of others to additional cement his reign over the Vietnamese marathon scene.
Ending simply behind Kiptoo, Keress limped throughout the end line, grimacing in ache. He attributed his efficiency to fatigue from one other current marathon.
After receiving remedy within the restoration space, Keress’s ache subsided however his frustration lingered till his temper was lifted when he found that he had gained $1,000 in prize cash for taking third place – a welcome contribution to his dream of increasing his farm again dwelling. Nevertheless, as his promoter will even take a minimize of his winnings, his precise takings wouldn’t be so large.
His teammate Miko dominated the half marathon, securing a $600 prize.
![Ethiopian runner Miko applies balm to teammate Keress's leg before a race in Vietnam [Danh Nguyen]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_5182-1743152733.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C702)
‘Unpredictable dangers’
After their races, each runners have been taken again to their lodge to relaxation earlier than returning to Thailand, the place that they had been primarily based for the earlier six months in a coaching camp outdoors the capital, Bangkok. Their Thai promoter oversees all points of their operating careers in Southeast Asia – from journey and lodging to coaching plans, race entries and immigration visas.
For runners reminiscent of Keress and Miko, who’ve travelled little past their dwelling nations, such administration offers are indispensable. They advised Al Jazeera how they maintain their Thai supervisor in excessive regard, viewing him as a type of father determine.
However the relationship appears nearer to worker and employer, with the runners being very a lot sure by the overriding crucial of attaining good efficiency for his or her staff and sponsor – in an unstated energy dynamic.
Keress and Miko recounted how that they had plans to return to Ethiopia and reunite with their households.
They didn’t understand how a lot prize cash they might be bringing dwelling with them as the price of their journey bills to competitions, lodging and meals are deducted from their winnings.
And never all marathons pay winners instantly – some prizes are delayed for months and monetary safety is much from assured for a lot of runners.
Regardless of the issue and uncertainty confronted by prize-hunting runners in Vietnam, rumours in regards to the nation as a life-changing vacation spot for athletes are spreading in East Africa, in keeping with Kiptoo, Keress and others.
Beforehand a trainer in Eldoret, in Kenya’s Rift Valley area, Kiptoo’s meagre wage barely supported his household. Then COVID-19 hit and his household’s funds have been devastated. That was, he stated, when he took up operating significantly as a approach out of poverty.
His success in Vietnam has not solely allowed him to help his household but in addition to purchase a number of properties as investments in Kenya.
Kiptoo recounted how he by no means anticipated that Vietnam would change into so central to his life as an athlete and breadwinner for his household.
“In Kenya, we watch quite a lot of Vietnamese movies, however only a few folks really know what the nation is absolutely like,” Kiptoo stated.
He didn’t know both, in the beginning.
Now with marathon operating projected to proceed rising in coming years, the draw of Vietnam for African runners is just not more likely to wane quickly.
“Maybe extra Kenyan athletes will come right here sooner or later to earn cash by way of operating occasions. Nevertheless it’s not straightforward,” he stated.
“The 2 nations are very far aside, and marathons all the time carry unpredictable dangers.”
