Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, Vietnam – Ethiopian runner Tesfaye Tsegaye Keress deftly made his method by 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 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 hundreds of native Vietnamese runners, the participation of Keress and Miko instantly stirred curiosity. Native media needed to know who the rivals from East Africa had 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 necessary, he stated.
“I’ve a spouse and two sons, and we dwell 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 broaden our farm utilizing the cash from marathon races,” he stated.
To win, he wouldn’t solely should beat a few of Vietnam’s greatest long-distance runners but additionally Kenya’s Edwin Kiptoo – a fellow East African who presently dominates Vietnam’s marathon operating circuit after successful a string of main races.
Discovering their ft on Vietnam’s streets
Keress may be thought-about a mean runner in his native Ethiopia – a rustic that has produced among the world’s most famed monitor athletes.
His private greatest pace to finish a marathon is 2:23:50, which he achieved in 2023 in a marathon in Thailand. Although spectacular, that pace 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, nevertheless, Keress’s pace makes him a championship contender in a rustic the place operating has seen a steep rise in reputation.
Over the previous decade, marathons have boomed in Vietnam – a improvement partly attributed to the nation’s more and more rich center class looking for methods to maintain match within the nation’s burgeoning large cities. There’s additionally a brand new social aspect to operating in Vietnam’s well-attended marathons, in keeping with reviews, which have seen a steep rise in reputation for the reason that mid-2010s.
Regardless of a years-long hunch throughout COVID, the recognition of operating got here again even stronger post-pandemic, with many individuals targeted on holding wholesome. Native information web site VnExpress reported in 2023 {that a} complete of 41 full marathon races, with some 264,000 entrants, came about in 27 provinces and cities throughout Vietnam that 12 months. That was 10 extra marathons than had been held in Vietnam in 2022.
With a whole lot of hundreds of runners participating in a plethora of marathons up and down this nation of 100 million folks, main non-public sponsors have stepped in with prize cash.
Vietnam’s many marathons and profitable prizes of hundreds 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 drive 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 world wide are sometimes mediated by sport brokers, who sponsor a runner and in return could take a reduce 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 likewise operates an organization specialising in vitality 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 equivalent to Keress and Miko win races, there’s a excessive return for sponsoring model names and their services and products.
From prize hunter to celeb athlete in Vietnam
When Edwin Kiptoo – who shouldn’t be confused with one other youthful Kenyan runner with the identical identify however of a lot larger 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 affordable room Kiptoo might discover was double that worth.
However luck 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 in the course of the seek for someplace to remain, the Vietnamese runner noticed that they had been each born in the identical 12 months, 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 residence. Over dinner with Le Hoan’s household, Kiptoo advised them how he was operating to assist 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 following 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 residence and provided me meals along 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 stunned me,” he added.
Kiptoo’s wins and public profile in Vietnam have rocketed since. He shortly grew to become a star runner in Vietnam and his participation in races is now wanted. His winnings have additionally stacked up, incomes a mean of about $1,000 every week for taking first place in races throughout the nation.
However that was only the start.
In October 2024, Kiptoo signed a significant sponsorship contract with sportswear firm Do-Win Vietnam.
The corporate introduced in a celebratory Fb submit 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 business,” it stated.
The deal covers the runner’s dwelling bills, competitors entrance charges, and, crucially, secures a visa permitting Kiptoo to compete professionally in Vietnam. Prior to now, visas and visa extensions for Africans in Vietnam have been problematic, partly as a consequence of a crackdown on foreigners concerned in crime within the nation.
So having a significant sponsor behind him offers runners equivalent to 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 usually reserved for provincial or national-level Vietnamese athletes.
Now free of monetary stress and logistical considerations relating to race participation, Kiptoo stated he has been in a position to totally dedicate himself to coaching, making him a drive practically inconceivable to beat in Vietnam’s marathons.
“The assist from Vietnamese folks makes me really feel at residence,” Kiptoo advised Al Jazeera.
Success in Vietnam has not solely introduced Kiptoo monetary rewards but additionally elevated him to a form of sports activities celeb 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 hundreds of reactions – principally from his Vietnamese followers.
Competing in Vietnam continues to be a big gamble
A marathon, which often lasts at the very least 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 in the course of the race but additionally within the many twists and turns their skilled journey takes.
In March 2023, runners Kemboi Ezekiel from Kenya and Marta Tinsae Birehan from Ethiopia had been filled 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 provide obtainable solely within the earlier 12 months’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 plenty of marathon championships below his belt in Vietnam, can’t escape challenges. In late 2024, he was sponsored to compete in a marathon in Hanoi. Because of a misunderstanding, a sponsor didn’t register Kiptoo among the many skilled athletes competing. In consequence, regardless of successful the marathon, Kiptoo solely obtained an age-group prize of $200, somewhat than the $2,100 winner’s takings. He stated he didn’t need to complain concerning the end result, saying “all of us should observe the foundations.”
Working 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 hundreds 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 therapy 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 residence. Nonetheless, as his promoter may also take a reduce 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 had been taken again to their resort to relaxation earlier than returning to Thailand, the place they’d been primarily based for the earlier six months in a coaching camp outdoors the capital, Bangkok. Their Thai promoter oversees all elements of their operating careers in Southeast Asia – from journey and lodging to coaching plans, race entries and immigration visas.
For runners equivalent to Keress and Miko, who’ve travelled little past their residence nations, such administration offers are indispensable. They advised Al Jazeera how they maintain their Thai supervisor in excessive regard, viewing him as a form 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 reaching good efficiency for his or her staff and sponsor – in an unstated energy dynamic.
Keress and Miko recounted how they’d plans to return to Ethiopia and reunite with their households.
They didn’t know the way a lot prize cash they might be bringing residence 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 way from assured for a lot of runners.
Regardless of the issue and uncertainty confronted by prize-hunting runners in Vietnam, rumours concerning 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 had been devastated. That was, he stated, when he took up operating critically as a method out of poverty.
His success in Vietnam has not solely allowed him to assist his household but additionally 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 a number of Vietnamese movies, however only a few folks truly know what the nation is basically like,” Kiptoo stated.
He didn’t know both, at first.
Now with marathon operating projected to proceed rising in coming years, the draw of Vietnam for African runners isn’t prone to wane quickly.
“Maybe extra Kenyan athletes will come right here sooner or later to earn cash by operating occasions. But it surely’s not simple,” he stated.
“The 2 nations are very far aside, and marathons at all times carry unpredictable dangers.”
