Aiming for a record of 11 championships
Up to now, runner Do Quoc Luat has been recognized as the brightest record holder at the National Marathon and Long-Distance Championship of Tien Phong Newspaper. Do Quoc Luat won the Gold Medal for 10 consecutive times in the men's 10km distance of this race. Previously, the late coach Bui Luong was the athlete with the best results with 8 consecutive championships in the tournament.
However, the record was surpassed by Do Quoc Luat. In 2023, on the race track held in Lai Chau, Do Quoc Luat won the men's 10km professional distance to officially win the championship 9 times in a row and surpassed the record of teacher Bui Luong.
By 2024, Do Quoc Luat will continue to win the 10km event. Do Quoc Luat is currently the first athlete to win a Gold Medal 10 times in a row in a professional event of the National Marathon and Long-Dance Championship of Tien Phong Newspaper.
"This year, I have been professionally prepared to accumulate physical strength for myself. Before that, I had a slight injury to my leg, but at this time I have to ensure my physical strength and be ready to compete towards defending the championship of the 10km distance that I am holding professionally.
I am determined to conquer this challenge and also set a goal of winning the tournament for the 11th consecutive time. If I get this, the result will be a significant encouragement for me, Do Quoc Luat discussed.
Do Quoc Luat's journey to conquer the National Marathon and Long-Distance Championship of Tien Phong Newspaper began in 2015. That year in Vinh Yen city (Vinh Phuc), the young man Do Quoc Luat was registered for the first time to compete in the professional 10km event and then won spectacularly to win the Gold Medal. Following that, until 2024 in Phu Yen, Do Quoc Luat had not once failed in the professional 10km distance of the National Marathon and Long Distance Championship of Tien Phong Newspaper.
It is difficult to say which factor creates my health to compete in each season and achieve such results. Above all, it is necessary to practice persistently and be determined to properly implement the professional lesson plan given by the coach. I compete in both on-field and long-distance competitions on the road, so professional exercises are intertwined to help create endurance, Do Quoc Luat shared.
At national athletics competitions organized by the Vietnam Department of Physical Education and Sports and the Vietnam Athletics Federation, Do Quoc Luat is a rare case of winning 10 times in 1 event. Notably, this runner has won consecutive championships and has not been interrupted. The 11th Gold Medal is the goal that Do Quoc Luat aims to conquer at this year's tournament.
The competition took place on the morning of March 30 in Dong Ha city (Quang Tri). "Many athletes of the units are preparing carefully, my teammates and I are also cautious. I have to understand the track, understand the physical strength of my body and have clear goals to have the motivation to overcome challenges," Do Quoc Luat added.
Still regretful for missing the SEA Games Gold Medal at home
Through many conversations, Do Quoc Luat said that he had experienced and achieved many important achievements in the Vietnam Athletics Team and the results in the domestic tournament in the Border Athletics Team, but he still felt regretful.
The regret is to be remembered forever as the achievement at the 31st SEA Games (May 2022) held in Vietnam.
Participating in the 31st SEA Games, Do Quoc Luat is the current champion of the 3,000m hurdles distance ( having won the Gold Medal at the 30th SEA Games), so the athlete is determined to defend his No. 1 position. For all Vietnamese athletes, winning a Gold Medal at the SEA Games held at home is an important goal that they are aiming for.
Unfortunately, the Do Quoc Luat was not successful. Trying to compete at all costs on the 3,000m hurdles, Do Quoc Luat finished second and won a Silver Medal. At the finish line at that time, Do Quoc Luat could not help but disappoint himself.
However, this runner still believes that the winner of the Gold Medal is his junior Le Tien Long, who is completely deserving. "The medal result did not achieve the Gold color as expected and this is an unforgettable memory for me", Do Quoc Luat once discussed at that time.
Up to now, the result at the 31st SEA Games is the final medal that Do Quoc Luat won when participating in the SEA Games arena. During the 32nd SEA Games (May 2023) in Cambodia, Do Quoc Luat continued to compete but did not win any medals.
Through each tournament, I learn from experience to adjust myself better. Every challenge is always a threshold for every athlete like me to overcome and achieve for myself, Do Quoc Luat acknowledged.
Community runner inspires
From 2024, Do Quoc Luat officially left the Vietnam Athletics Team. Memorable milestones in his professional career were made by Do Quoc Luat when competing for the Vietnam Athletics Team.
At the age of 32, Do Quoc Luat never intended to retire from the track because this former player confirmed that he still had the strength and motivation to practice and compete. Depending on the volume in each pre-competition preparation stage, Do Quoc Luat will be given a suitable professional lesson plan and on average each training session will run no less than 30km.
Do Quoc Luat has started to participate more in long-distance running and marathon movements that have been taking place across the country recently. Running is a concept, competition is an effective form of exercise. Above all, Do Quoc Luat aims to connect and interact to inspire more people to practice running.
"Previously, people saw the late coach Bui Luong as an inspiration for those who love and are passionate about running. The most positive thing for us is our health being trained. Running has its own advantages in this sport and the more people practice it, the better everyone's health will certainly improve," Do Quoc Luat added.
Images and professional exchanges of Do Quoc Luat appeared in many social networking forums about running and marathoning. With his own experience, Do Quoc Luat guides running enthusiasts how to warm up and run properly. Because sports must perform the right movements to avoid injuries.
"I have participated in many national tournaments and now have more experience in grassroots marathons, so I have been through many provinces and cities across the country. I and all athletes see that the running movement in many localities is very developed.
Now people love running and running and marathons attract many participants.Running helps each person discover their own threshold of movement.If the sport develops, people's physical exercise habits will certainly be more active, Do Quoc Luat expressed.
