Over the past few days, the running community has been delighted by the image of Vàng A Tung crossing the finish line of the 70km race at the Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM) 2026 with a Lecka Mango-Passion Fruit gel packet in his mouth. It was a joyful moment for the Lecka team, marking the culmination of a long journey involving a nutrition strategy that was carefully prepared and adjusted for each stage of the race.
At VMM 2026, Vàng A Tung brilliantly clinched the 70km title, capping off his journey with an impressive performance. 🏆🔥
So, how did A Tung use Lecka gels throughout the 70km race?
An exciting moment as Lecka Ultra Gel and A Tung cross the finish line of the 70km race at VMM 2026.
Who is Vang A Tung?
Vang A Tung is a prominent young figure in Vietnam's trail running community, known for his participation in numerous domestic trail races. With a knack for conquering long distances and rugged terrain, A Tung frequently competes in ultra-trail events. At VMM 2026, he delivered an impressive performance, clinching the championship in the 70km category. Currently, A Tung serves as a Brand Ambassador for Lecka Vietnam.
Pre-race: One Coffee-Cacao gel to kick off race day
About 30 minutes before the start, A Tung consumes one packet of Lecka Coffee-Cacao Gel.
This choice helps him start the race alert and energized before embarking on the long journey across mountainous terrain.
Lecka’s Coffee-Cacao Gel blends 7% cacao powder with 2% Vietnamese Robusta coffee powder—an ideal choice for runners seeking a caffeine boost to maintain alertness and focus during the race.
During the race: Selecting gels for different stages
Once on the course, A Tung supplements his Lecka gels with nutrition provided at the checkpoints.
Around the 12km mark, Tung uses the Banana Peanut Butter Ultra Gel.
In a 70km race, consistent energy replenishment is a crucial part of the nutrition strategy. The Banana Peanut Butter Ultra Gel features a thicker consistency than standard gels and provides carbohydrates along with protein from peanut butter, making it perfect for fueling up during long stretches of the run.
Around the 40km mark, Tung switches to the Mango Passion Fruit Ultra Gel. The reason is simple yet interesting: as the race nears its end, fatigue can dull one's sense of taste. A flavor with a hint of tartness helps provide a refreshing sensation, stimulating the palate and revitalizing energy levels.
With its blend of natural mango and passion fruit, the Mango-Passion Fruit Ultra Gel is an ideal choice for this stage of the race.
With the final sip of gel, Lecka Ultra Mango-Passion Fruit powered A Tung to a spectacular finish.
One large sip per hour—but it depends on the body
According to A Tung, during a race, he typically consumes one large sip every hour, while adjusting his intake based on his physical condition and the actual race conditions.
This highlights an important point: nutrition strategy for long-distance trail running does not have to follow a rigid, one-size-fits-all formula. Quantities and timing may need adjustment based on running pace, terrain, weather, how the body feels, and the nutrition consumed at checkpoints.
For the 70km VMM 2026 race, A Tung combined three Lecka gel packs with the nutrition provided at checkpoints:
- 30 minutes before the race: 1 Coffee-Cacao Gel
- Around the 12km mark: 1 Banana-Peanut Butter Ultra Gel
- Around the 40km mark: 1 Mango-Passion Fruit Ultra Gel
- At checkpoints: additional nutrition as needed during the race
Interestingly, Tung selects his gels not only based on energy content but also varies the flavors according to the different stages of the race.
Ultra Banana Peanut Butter is the gel flavor A Tung likes the most.
Thank you, Vang A Tung, for sharing how you use Lecka gels during races and for giving Lecka the opportunity to accompany you on your journey to conquer challenging trail routes. Once again, the Lecka team extends its warmest congratulations to Vang A Tung, the champion of the VMM 70km race.