Many noted that the strong community atmosphere on the course contributed positively to their race experience and performance.

Emmanuel Otiji, 32, a Nigerian national who has lived in Ho Chi Minh City for around seven years, visited Hai Phong for the first time to compete in the race.

Otiji said the large number of full marathon runners created a sense of excitement from the start.

“I didn’t expect to see 5,000 people running 42 km. The atmosphere was very lively. We kept encouraging each other, and it felt like a true runners’ gathering,” he said.

According to Otiji, the shared energy helped him maintain a consistent pace throughout the race.

He also praised the volunteers along the course, who provided water and encouragement at key points. “There were moments when I was running alone, but seeing volunteers wave or hand out water gave me extra motivation,” he said.

Otiji finished in 3 hours 29 minutes, setting a personal best and improving his previous time by more than 14 minutes.

Jean Matthieu Beroujon strides along the 42 km course at Read Marathon Hai Phong 2025. Photo courtesy of Read Marathon

Jean Matthieu Beroujon, 47, from France, said he decided to join the Hai Phong race after missing the Hanoi Midnight Marathon in late November.

Beroujon recorded a personal best of 3 hours 44 minutes 58 seconds. However, he said the most memorable moment for him was standing at the starting line and watching the steady flow of runners move toward the course.

“Seeing thousands of people heading in the same direction felt like a giant train,” Beroujon said.

Accustomed to training alone, he said the sense of community stood out during the event. “We warmed up together with music at the starting line, and after finishing, we congratulated each other when receiving medals. It was very different from running alone,” he added.

A 2022 study by Plymouth Marjon University, published in the Journal of Human Kineticsfound that a strong community atmosphere at marathon events can help participants maintain motivation and energy. Shared goals, such as reaching the finish line, can also foster connections among runners regardless of nationality.

Noel Bizeul, 62, also from France, said choosing the full marathon distance was appropriate given the long journey from Europe to Vietnam. Although he did not achieve a personal best, he said he enjoyed the local environment and support from fellow runners.

“Throughout the 42 km, many runners waved, greeted me, or gave a thumbs-up,” Bizeul said. “I’ve been living here for five months and don’t plan to move to another city.”

Read Marathon Hai Phong 2025 started at 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 21 and attracted around 14,000 runners overall, including 5,000 participants in the full marathon. The event marked the final race in the Read Marathon series for 2025.

Hai Long