Of the runners, 300 are foreigners, two of the international level, and nearly 400 from Khanh Hoa province.

Kenyan athlete Shelmith Muriuki defended her championship, crossing the finishing line after 2 hours 52 minutes and 42 seconds. She failed to beat her own record of 2 hours 47 minutes and 41 seconds set at the VnExpress Marathon race in Quy Nhon two months ago.

Meanwhile, Japanese athlete Hiroki Nakajima won the men's 42-kilometre race, and Vietnam’s Do Quoc Luat came first in the men’s 21-kilometre category.

This is the second time the VnExpress Marathon has been held in Nha Trang.