Mother of four Van Trang wins 42km at Y Ty Golden Season 2026: 'I run with my legs, not with people's mouths!'

On September 6, 2026, the Y Ty Golden Season trail race in Lao Cai witnessed a special milestone. Van Trang, a 35-year-old mother of four, nicknamed Jang Doll, finished first in the women's 42km distance. Crossing the finish line in 4 hours 26 minutes, she not only led the female runners but also ranked second overall in the entire race. To be precise, only one male runner left her behind in the general classification; all other male athletes at the event finished behind the woman from Hanoi born in 2026. Y Ty Golden Season is not a race for the faint-hearted. The 42km course has more than 1,300 meters of accumulated elevation gain, with steep slopes, slippery terrain and thin highland air that keep the heart rate at alert levels. The majestic nature of Y Ty commune, Bat Xat district, near the border area, has made this one of the most iconic trail routes in northern Vietnam. What makes Van Trang's achievement more impressive is that she does not fit the narrow image of a professional athlete that many people carry. Speaking to reporters after receiving her award, Van Trang said: “The 42km distance has steep sections that almost drain the body. At that moment, I focused only on each stretch ahead, kept my breathing steady, distributed my energy and fueled at the right time. I kept telling myself: ‘Stay calm; as long as I still have strength, there is still a chance.’ This endurance comes from consistency and discipline. Besides running, I combine gym, swimming and supplementary exercises to build fitness day by day.” However, right after the finish horn, what was talked about most was not the 4-hour-26-minute statistic. A photo of Van Trang in a tight running outfit was circulated by some people in running groups along with rude comments. They ridiculed her natural chest and used the phrase “carrying two grapefruits while running” to describe her on the racecourse. Instead of denying it or staying silent, the female runner immediately responded bluntly. “To be honest, I challenge anyone to carry two grapefruits while running 42km or 55km of mountain trails! I run with my legs, not with my appearance, so why put me in groups to gossip? Some people see pressure; I see motivation and ‘vitamin C’ for my spirit. The important thing is that I still finished, and I am still happy and healthy. Criticize all you want. I run with my own legs, not with people's mouths,” Van Trang said. The Hanoi runner also urged the crowd to look at female athletes in a more civilized way. For her, the first thing to recognize is effort and achievement, not body shape. “When women play sports, what deserves to be recognized first must be effort and achievement. Appearance is a personal story, while achievement is the result of years of training. When you look at a girl on the racecourse, I hope you see someone trying to conquer her own limits.” The question of whether she should wear looser clothes to avoid prying eyes was also answered firmly by Van Trang. She said sportswear must first be comfortable and safe. If she changed herself only because she feared judgment, she would have to live her whole life under other people's gaze. “I choose to focus on the course and my goals. Marathon teaches me that I cannot always run in perfect conditions. Life is the same. Praise makes me happy, criticism helps me reflect, and unkind words I learn to ignore.” For Vietnam's trail-running community, Van Trang's story also carries a data-driven message. A 4-hour-26-minute finish on a 42km course with more than 1,300m of elevation gain reflects a physical foundation built through years of training, not the result of a short-term running plan. In a sport often measured by pace, total time and ranking, beating almost all male runners is undeniable quantitative proof. Comments like “carrying two grapefruits” are not part of professional judgment and cannot explain why she finished second overall. The Y Ty Golden Season 2026 champion said her immediate goal is the VMM 70km race, one of the toughest ultra-trail events in Southeast Asia. Later, she is targeting the 100km distance at the end of the year. “Let achievement speak. I do not need to become the version others want to see. It is enough to become a better version of myself every day,” she concluded. The phrase “I run with my legs, not with people's mouths” quickly spread through the running community as a reminder. In sports, the line between cheering and insulting can be very thin. When a 35-year-old woman runs more than 42km through the mountains and finishes among the leaders, she deserves to be honored for the course, the time and the willpower she showed — not for gossip. Van Trang does not need anyone to judge her appearance.