Recently, the organizers officially opened registration for this category from June 4 to 13, coordinating with the Happy Feet running community to create a specialized playground for runners pursuing achievement goals.
According to data from Vietnam Best Marathon, there are currently about 3,500 Vietnamese athletes who meet the entry standards set by the Elite system. From 2026, this model will be applied synchronously at races belonging to the Zaha Legacy Marathon system as well as the "Vietnam I am" race.
To be considered for the Elite system, athletes must own a bib to participate in the tournament and meet the achievement requirements within the last 12 months.
In the Half Marathon distance, men must achieve less than 1 hour 33 minutes and women must achieve less than 1 hour 40 minutes. For the Marathon distance, the standard achievement is less than 3 hours 10 minutes for men and less than 3 hours 40 minutes for women respectively. The results need to be verified through official tournaments or the Vietnam Best Marathon system.
Not only aiming to divide competition groups, the Elite system also brings many unique benefits. Before the race day, athletes receive Elite singlet shirts, separate identification bibs, specialized gifts and are introduced on the tournament's media platforms.
On the competition day, the Elite group has a separate race kit receiving area, priority starting lane, separate photo space and recovery area after the race.
Mr. Tran Luu Ngoc Anh - Director of Zaha Vietnam Joint Stock Company, Head of the Organizing Committee of the "Vietnam I am 2026" running race said that the Elite system is not simply a place to gather the fastest runners but also a recognition for the serious training process of athletes.
In the early stages of implementation, the organizers limited 200 Elite slots. These are considered representative faces of professional fighting spirit, perseverance and aspiration to improve achievements in the running community.
The appearance of the Elite System also reflects a new development step of the Vietnamese marathon movement. As the number of standard runners increases, the demand for more competitive playgrounds is also becoming clear.
The "Vietnam I am 2026" race expects the Elite system to become the highlight of the season, and at the same time contribute to promoting a methodical and professional training culture in the Vietnamese running community.
Step 1: Register to participate in the race: https://legacymarathon.com/event/viet-nam-toi- do-my-viet-nam-2026/order (If you already have a bib number, please skip this step)
Step 2: Register to participate in the Elite system: https://t.ly/VNTDELITE
