Mother of four Van Trang wins 42km at Y Ty 2026: “Run with your feet, not with people’s mouths”

The results board of the 42km distance at the 2026 Y Ty Golden Season race may have closed long ago, but conversations about Van Trang’s name are still not over. No one can deny one thing: she was the best female runner of the most brutal terrain distance of the race, and she finished second overall, overtaking nearly every man who took part. The event took place on September 6, 2026, in Y Ty commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province. Van Trang, nicknamed Jang Doll, was born in 2026, currently lives in Hanoi, and is a mother of four children. But on a route with more than 1,300 meters of cumulative elevation gain, she was no longer just the image of a capable mother at home. She was an enduring machine, knowing when to save energy, when to attack, and especially how to keep her spirit from collapsing between the near vertical slopes leading up to Lao Than mountain. Lao Than peak is 2,860 meters above sea level. Thin air, slippery terrain, and endless sections of jungle trails and rocky streams are real challenges for anyone, even professional runners. In that context, Van Trang’s time of 4 hours 26 minutes is not only a personal achievement. It reflects a systematic, persistent and uncompromising training process. Speaking after the race, Van Trang said: “The 42km distance has slopes that make the body almost run out of energy. At that time, I only focused on the section of road right ahead, kept my breathing steady, managed my strength and refueled at the right time. I always reminded myself: Stay calm, as long as you still have strength, there is still a chance. This endurance comes from consistency and discipline. In addition to running, I combine gym, swimming and supplementary exercises to build physical fitness day by day.” Looking at her training schedule, a clear principle emerges: no shortcuts, no rushing. To complete a 42km mountain race, a runner needs a combination of muscle strength, lung capacity, ability to bear pain, and especially emotional control when the body enters a state of lactate overload. Van Trang does not just have one of those elements; she has all of them. That is why she finished first among the female runners and lost to only one male runner in the entire 42km category. However, instead of focusing on the achievement, a part of the online community chose to scrutinize the female runner’s body after images of her stepping off the awards podium were shared in running groups. Rude comments targeted Van Trang’s chest, and some even mocked her by saying she was “carrying two grapefruits while running.” Instead of being hurt, the runner born in 2026 responded sharply and with personality. She said bluntly: “I am telling the truth, I dare anyone to carry two grapefruits and run 42km or 55km on mountain trails! I run with my legs, I don’t run because of my appearance, so why do you bring me into groups to talk behind my back? Some people see pressure; I see it as motivation to supply vitamin C for my spirit. The important thing is that I still finished, still healthy and happy. Judge all you want, I run with my own feet, not with people’s mouths!” Van Trang’s answer quickly spread and received strong support from the running community. Many people said she spoke to the heart of the matter: women in sports have long faced many stereotypes, from the idea that the weaker sex cannot run long distances to being judged for their clothes, their bodies, and even the fact that once a woman becomes a mother, she should not pursue ultra trail races. Van Trang also expressed her wish for the public to have a more civilized view of women in sports. She said: “For women playing sports, what should be recognized first is their effort and achievement. Appearance is each person’s own story, but achievement is the result of years of training. When you look at a girl on the racecourse, I hope everyone sees someone trying to conquer her own limits.” This is not the first time women in trail running have been judged for their physical appearance. The problem is not whether the runner wears tight or loose clothing; it is the way a part of the audience treats female athletes as aesthetic objects rather than athletes. When a man finishes with a muscular body, people talk about strength. When a woman finishes with a large bust, people choose a different story. Van Trang understands that injustice, and she chooses to turn it into fuel. Asked whether she would choose more conservative or looser clothing to avoid prying eyes in future races, the Y Ty champion firmly shook her head: “Sports clothing first of all must be comfortable and safe. If I change myself just because I fear scrutiny, then I will always have to live under other people’s eyes. I choose to focus on the road and my goal. The marathon teaches me that I do not always run in perfect conditions. Life is the same. Compliments make me happy, criticism helps me look back, and malicious words I learn to ignore.” Indeed, if one understands the marathon, one understands that the biggest battle is not against the runner beside you but against the fatigue inside you. The human body often sends signals to quit before it is truly exhausted. Conquering 42km of mountain trail requires not only strong legs; it also requires the ability to listen to your heartbeat, adjust tactics, and maintain a cold enough mentality not to be shaken by outside noise. Van Trang came to Y Ty not only to prove she can run fast, but also to prove that a mother of four can still conquer mountain peaks that society once believed were reserved for men. Beyond spiritual values, Van Trang’s achievement is also meaningful for Vietnam’s trail running movement. More and more women are joining mountain races, and they are not just running for fun. They train systematically, use smartwatch data, calculate heart rate, manage nutrition and build structured training plans. They deserve to be treated as real athletes. Achievements like Van Trang’s will gradually change the public’s view, but it takes time and needs even stronger voices. For her part, Van Trang has no intention of stopping. She has set her next goal to conquer the more brutal Ultra Trail distance at the upcoming VMM 70km race. She also plans to enter the 100km category at the end of the year. These are challenges that many experienced male runners still consider carefully before clicking the registration button. But given what she has shown at Y Ty, her confidence is completely justified. Speaking about the journey ahead, Van Trang shared: “Let achievements speak. I don’t need to become the version other people want to see. Just becoming a better version of myself every day is enough.” That sentence can be seen as a message running through her entire athletic career. Van Trang chose to come to Y Ty, chose to run 42km among steep mountain trails, chose to face the thin mountain air, and chose to stand tall before unkind comments. She does not need everyone to love her. She only needs them to respect her legs and the hard work she has put in for many years. The 2026 Y Ty Golden Season race has ended, but the conversation about women having the right to live and run the way they want certainly has not stopped. In that conversation, Van Trang is not merely an individual; she represents many women who train quietly every day, face prejudice, push the limits of their bodies and never give up. The look in her eyes on Lao Than peak was not the look of someone winning to take revenge on haters. It was the look of someone who chose to be happy for herself.