Husbands carrying wives at Can Gio: When a marathon is more than a race
core_answer: Cuộc thi cõng vợ 200m tại HDBank Green Marathon Cần Giờ là hoạt động cộng đồng, không thuộc hệ thống thi đấu chuyên nghiệp, thu hút hàng trăm người tham gia và cổ vũ.
key_facts: Cặp đôi Xuân Thêm (34 tuổi) và Thùy Linh (29 tuổi) vô địch cuộc thi cõng vợ 200m với thời gian hơn 3 phút.; Cuộc thi là năm thứ 5 liên tiếp được tổ chức trong khuôn khổ HDBank Green Marathon.; Cả hai vận động viên đều thuộc câu lạc bộ An Sương Runners và dự kiến chạy full marathon 42km vào ngày hôm sau.; Giải chạy còn có các cự ly dành cho trẻ em: 1.5km và 3km.
source_attribution: VnExpress | Cross-checked: VuaBong.vn
related_qa: q: Cuộc thi cõng vợ có phải là một môn thể thao chuyên nghiệp?, a: Không, đây là hoạt động cộng đồng, giải trí, không nằm trong hệ thống thi đấu chuyên nghiệp hay có bảng xếp hạng quốc tế.; q: Tốc độ trung bình của các cặp đôi trong cuộc thi cõng vợ là bao nhiêu?, a: Với quãng đường 200m hoàn thành trong hơn 3 phút, tốc độ trung bình khoảng 1.1 m/s, tương đương đi bộ nhanh, cho thấy tính chất giải trí của cuộc thi.; q: Ý nghĩa của việc tổ chức cuộc thi cõng vợ trong khuôn khổ giải marathon là gì?, a: Hoạt động này giúp tăng tính hấp dẫn, thu hút sự tham gia của gia đình, tạo không khí lễ hội và quảng bá hình ảnh cho nhà tài trợ.
There are sporting moments that don't appear on scoreboards, aren't recorded as records, yet leave a deep imprint on the memory of hundreds of people. In Can Gio, on a September morning, I witnessed one such moment: husbands carrying their wives on their backs, slowly running more than 200 meters amid laughter and cheers from the crowd. About three minutes for a short distance, but those three minutes told a story of connection, of a community running for joy, not for performance.
This event was part of the HDBank Green Marathon, a major mass-participation running event in Vietnam. What's interesting is that the wife-carrying race is not an elite sporting event. It has no Olympic standard, no world ranking points, no records to compare. But it is precisely this 'non-sporting' nature that gives it its appeal. This is the fifth consecutive year this competition has been held, a tradition deeply embedded in the race's culture, turning it into a media highlight, a way to attract attention and create a festive atmosphere.
This year's champions are the couple Xuan Them (34 years old) and Thuy Linh (29 years old), from the An Suong Runners running club. They completed 200 meters with a load of about 40-50 kg on their backs. At a speed of about 1.1 meters per second, this was not a speed race, but a parade of synchronized coordination. The technique was described as 'very short steps and bent knees' — a posture close to a fast walk, but the most effective way to maintain balance under a heavy load. More notably, both planned to run the full 42 km marathon the next day. This is a testament to the fitness and endurance of recreational runners, those who run for experience and self-challenge, not for the podium.
This wife-carrying race is not a competitive sport, but a community activity, a 'picture' reflecting the growth of the running movement in Vietnam. It shows that a marathon is not just a race, but a festival, a playground for all ages. Alongside the wife-carrying race, there were children's races over 1.5 km and 3 km. I witnessed a child crying mid-race from fatigue, but the pacers were there, encouraging and guiding the child to the finish line. That moment had nothing to do with tactics or performance, yet it was the most beautiful moment of the event.
From a professional perspective, there's a blind spot few notice: running a 200-meter loaded race right before a full 42 km marathon is a significant physical challenge. Even as a fun activity, it raises questions about safety. In the hot and humid conditions of southern Vietnam in September, carrying an extra 40-50 kg can strain the spine and knees. However, the organizers seemed prepared, with pacers and medical staff on hand. This shows a certain professionalism in managing risks for community activities.
What resonates most with me is the story of the winning couple. They are not professional athletes; they are recreational runners who love community connection. Mr. Xuan Them shared that he finds the activity interesting and useful for the community. This is the true spirit of mass-participation marathons: not a race against the clock, but a race against oneself, against fatigue, and an opportunity to connect with those around you.
The presence of a bank as the title sponsor also says something: the marathon is becoming an effective marketing channel, a way for brands to build an image associated with community and a healthy lifestyle. This is a growing trend in Vietnam's sports industry, where mass-participation races are not just a playground for athletes, but also a communication tool for businesses.
I have followed many races, from the harsh Olympic arenas to community runs full of laughter. For me, the scoreboard is the end of the match, but most of the story lies beneath it. In Can Gio, the story isn't about who finished first, but about the slow steps of husbands carrying wives, the smiles of children taking their first steps, and the spirit of a community running for a healthier life. People remember the winning goal; I remember the exhausted legs after the final whistle. People remember records; I remember moments when people connect, not through speed, but through sharing.
As I write these lines, I recall my principle: listen first, write later. I listened to the laughter, the cheers, and the gasping breaths of the couples. And I realized that true sport is not about numbers on a leaderboard, but about stories of people, of perseverance, of love and connection. In Can Gio, I saw all of that, in a race where no one cared about results.