Ha Thi Hau (Hau), is a world-class ultra runner based in Sapa, Vietnam with an incredible story. She was born in the mountainous Van Son village in Northern Vietnam.
She began running when she was in high school. Even though she was an excellent athlete, she was refused entrance into a university to study to become a Physical Education teacher. This was not because of her grades or ability, but strictly due to not meeting the height requirement of 155 cm (she is only 153cm). After this, she moved to Sapa, Vietnam to begin her work career.
Ten years later, she found herself divorced, out of shape, overweight and with a child. This was all that she needed to begin running again. After two months of training she entered her first trail running race, the 21 km distance of Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM), in Sapa.
That first overall win, was the gun start of a successful running career, the limits of which, still need to be discovered.
Achivements
UTMB Major 100km Doi Inthanon
Thailand 09/12/2023
1st Female
X-Terra APAC Championship 34km,
Taiwan 16/04/2023
1st female, 3rd overall
Asia Trail Master Championship
Mount Apo Sky Race 75 km 16/12/22
1st female, 6th overall
VMM Ultra Trail 100km
Vietnam 09/09/2022
1st overall
Lao Than Mountain race, 7km
Vietnam 28/11/2020
1st female, 4th overall
UTMB CCC 100km
France 01/09/2023
4th Female
Dalat Ultra Trail 85km
Vietnam 04/03/2023
1st female 5th overall
Lam dong Ultra trail 70km,
Vietnam 12/11/2022
1st female, 2nd overall
Dalat Ultra Trail, 70km
Vietnam 26/03/2022
1st female, 4th overall
VMM Sapa Vietnam 21km
Vietnam 23/11/2020
1st overall
Ultra Trail Australia by UTMB 50km
Australia 13/05/2023
1st Female, 5th overall
UTMB Doi Inthanon 50km
Thailand 09/12/2022
1st female, 12th overall
Mucangchai Ultra trail 50km,
Vietnam 24/09/2022
1st overall
VTM Moc Chau, 70km
Vietnam 24/04/2021
1st female, 3rd overall
Fansipan Hill race Sapa
Vietnam 01/11/2020
1st female, 2nd overall
Hau learned from scratch running tracks and being coached by the best; that still coach and help her to excel.
When she started working with Coach Guim, she understood that getting a coach is key to get the best out of and athlete, and was decided to share her knowledge and tips anyone who wants to excel.
We create Push&Smile Coaching, with the will to offer a top-notch professional structure to help professional and amateur athletes. Please visit Push&Smile Coaching for more information.
Speaking
Hau finds that sharing her stories with others provides a unique opportunity to communicate universal lessons regarding hard work, success, fear, struggles of a single mum and teamwork through engaging and entertaining storytelling that leaves audiences excited and motivated to achieve their own dreams.
Hau adventures on ultra trail races around the world, are funny as no other, especially considering that she learned everything she know today about trail running in the last 3 years. Before that she did not know what was trail running; and as one can imagine, that took her to a lot of funny situations on international races.