Kiên Nguyen Trung at the Hammer Vietnam booth at the Techcombank Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon. Photo: Lynn Nguyen
An International Inspiration
BY ANDREYA GROZIK
Starting on October 22, 2017, 40-year-old Kiên Nguyen Trung began running. He ran 40-52 miles each day for 28 days from Hanoi to Saigon, Vietnam, totaling 1,160 miles. This is considered the fastest trek across Vietnam on foot, and has earned him the nickname, Kiên Running.
Kiên started at the Thai Nguyen Statue at the Center of the Hanoi Capital, running along the National Highway 1A to the Independence Palace. During his journey, a typhoon hit the South Central Provinces, which made finding food and sleeping accommodations particularly challenging. He only slept for five hours each night, relying on fueling from Hammer Nutrition, support from businesses and his loved ones, and the kindness of strangers to help get him through.
There was more than one reason behind Kiên's motivation to do this run. One reason, he says, was to show the Vietnamese that it's possible. Kiên says, *I think its mission [his run] is to prove it to everyone in the jogging community in Vietnam that ˜everyone can when they have faith.' He also believes that the essence of life is to experience things.
A friend introduced Kiên to Hammer Nutrition. With Hammer, he says, I feel better, more comfortable, and stronger with this product, and in fact I run more without feeling tired. His favorite and most-used Hammer product is Hammer Gel.
No doubt this incredible voyage has changed Kiên and his life. He says it's taught him to better understand himself and his abilities, and, I will do better not just with running. His future goals include running for 60 days straight averaging 50 miles a day, and running the Boston Marathon.
*Quotes from Kien have been translated
