Van Trang – mother of four wins Y Ty 42km trail: “I run with my legs, not with other people’s mouths”

The clock at the Y Ty finish line stopped at 4 hours 26 minutes. Van Trang had just completed 42km of mountain roads, becoming the fastest female runner in the 42km distance at Y Ty Golden Season 2026 – and placing second overall, behind only one male athlete. The 2026-born mother of four, nicknamed Jang Doll, produced an unforgettable performance at 2,860m above sea level on Lao Than mountain. Yet the story did not stop at medals. Photos of her were shared in running groups, where some commenters overlooked her achievement and mocked her curves. Van Trang hit back without hesitation: “I run with my legs, not with other people’s mouths.” The 4h26 run at Y Ty was far from comfortable. The 42km trail in Lao Cai has more than 1,300m of elevation gain, with steep slopes and thin air near the Lao Than summit. It is enough to break many experienced trail runners. Van Trang admitted the toughest moments arrived on long climbs, when her body nearly ran out of energy. Instead of thinking about the distant finish line, she focused on the next few metres, kept her breathing steady and managed her strength. Her endurance was built on consistent training, not luck. She combines running with gym sessions, swimming and supplementary exercises. Asked how a woman aged 35, who has given birth four times, could still race 42km in the mountains, Van Trang pointed to discipline. “I kept telling myself: stay calm. As long as I still have energy, I still have a chance,” she said. Her professional achievement, however, was not the first thing people discussed. After photos of Van Trang appeared in running groups, part of the online community focused on her natural chest under a tight sports outfit, using vulgar comparisons such as “carrying two grapefruits while running”. Instead of staying silent, the mother of four responded directly. “I challenge anyone to carry two grapefruits for 42km or 55km on mountain trails. I run with my legs, not with my looks, so why bring me into groups to gossip? Others see pressure; I see motivation – a dose of vitamin C for my spirit. What matters is that I finished and I am healthy and happy,” Van Trang said. The issue was never only about personal dignity. Van Trang also wanted to challenge how society sees women in sport. She argued that female athletes should be judged first by effort and achievement. “Appearance is a personal matter, while achievement is the result of years of training,” she said. When asked whether she would wear looser clothes to avoid stares, the Y Ty champion refused. Sports clothing, she said, must first be comfortable and safe. If she changed herself because of fear of judgment, she would spend her whole life living under other people’s eyes. Praise makes her happy, criticism helps her reflect, but malicious words deserve to be ignored. What stands out is that Van Trang refused to let negativity control her future. She used humour to turn pressure into mental nutrition. Her reaction proves that an athlete can be strong in both legs and mind. As women’s sport in Vietnam grows, stories like hers remind us that results must come first – not appearances. Y Ty Golden Season 2026 is over, but Van Trang is still moving forward. She wants to conquer the 70km category at the upcoming VMM event and eventually take on 100km at the end of the year. For her, every day is about becoming a better version of herself. “Let results speak. I do not need to be the version others want to see,” she said, closing her Y Ty story with a powerful life mantra.