Mother of Four Van Trang Wins Y Ty 42km Women’s Title: ‘I Run on My Feet, Not on Other People’s Mouths’

At dawn on September 6, 2026, in the majestic Lao Than mountain area of Lao Cai, Van Trang crossed the finish line of the 42km distance at the Y Ty Golden Season Trail 2026. The official time was 4 hours 26 minutes. With this result, she ranked first among women in the 42km category and second overall. What made the achievement more remarkable was that Van Trang is a mother of four, born in 2026, and currently living in Hanoi. The story, however, did not stay focused on her accomplishment. Shortly after her finish-line photo was shared online, a group of social media users made inappropriate comments about her body. They focused on her natural chest under her tight sports outfit and used crude words to insult her, instead of recognizing her effort and performance. Van Trang, also known by the nickname Jang Doll, did not stay silent. She quickly responded with a straightforward and strong message that changed the conversation. The 42km course at Y Ty is brutally difficult. The trail includes more than 1,300 meters of accumulated elevation gain, steep climbs and high-altitude air that make breathing harder. Runners have to cross terraced rice fields, rocky paths, winding trails and thick morning fog. In such conditions, finishing in 4:26 is an impressive time for any runner, regardless of gender. Sharing with reporters after the race, Van Trang said she nearly ran out of energy at some steep sections. Instead of focusing on the finish line, she focused on small sections in front of her. She said she kept breathing steadily, managed her energy and refueled at the right time. She reminded herself to stay calm and keep going as long as she had strength. Her endurance did not come overnight. As a mother of four children, Van Trang has to balance family life and training. Besides running, she also does gym, swimming and supplementary exercises to build strength day by day. She said that endurance comes from regularity and discipline. The result was not just a victory in the women’s category. In the overall ranking, she finished behind only one male runner. This means she beat most of the male runners in one of the hardest mountain races in Vietnam. Despite that achievement, many online comments focused on her body. Some people used dirty language to mock her chest and said she was carrying two grapefruits while running. Van Trang then reacted forcefully: she challenged anyone to carry two grapefruits while running 42km or 55km on mountain trails. She stated clearly that she runs with her feet, not with her looks, and that she does not run according to other people’s mouths. Her statement “I run with my legs, not with other people’s mouths” quickly became a rallying cry. Many runners, both male and female, supported her. In sports, especially running, women often face harsh judgment about their appearance, while male runners are rarely inspected in the same way. Asked whether she would wear looser clothes to avoid judgment, Van Trang firmly answered that sports clothing must first be comfortable and safe. She said if she changed herself because she was afraid of judgment, she would always live under other people’s gaze. Instead, she chooses to focus on the route and her own goal. Marathon taught her that conditions are not always perfect, and life is the same. She accepts praise, learns from criticism and ignores unkind comments. From a technical perspective, tight clothing is very common in trail running. It reduces friction, absorbs sweat and prevents chafing. For female runners with larger chests, supportive and tight clothing is even more important to reduce pain and avoid injury on long descents. Mocking a runner for wearing proper sports clothing is unreasonable. Van Trang also sent a direct message to those with negative views about women in sports. She said women who play sports deserve to be recognized first for their effort and achievements. She asked people to look at a female runner and see someone working to conquer her limits, not just an object to be judged. Her story at Y Ty is not unique. Many female amateur runners in Vietnam face double pressure: they must train hard and also tolerate comments about their bodies, outfits and faces. But the fact that more women are speaking out is helping the sports community become more civilized. The Y Ty Golden Season 2026 will be an unforgettable memory for Van Trang. She arrived as a female runner and mother of four, and she left with the highest position for women in the 42km. She also brought home a powerful message. Now Van Trang has set her next goals. She plans to run the grueling VMM 70km and aims to finish a 100km race at the end of the year. These longer distances require even more physical strength, mental toughness and careful nutrition strategy. “Let results speak. I don’t need to become a version of myself that others want to see. Each day, I only need to become a better version of myself,” Van Trang said. Looking back at her story, the lasting impression is not the unpleasant comments. It is a woman who ran very fast, very strongly, conquered more than 1,300 meters of elevation gain, pushed through her limits and finished near the top of the entire race. She has four children, her own job, a passion for running and a positive attitude. So if anyone needs a reason why women should still run trail, why women should wear comfortable sports clothing and why women do not need to apologize for their bodies, they should look at Van Trang. She proves that she can finish a race that many people fear. She is not running for praise. She is running for her own goals. Van Trang’s story at Y Ty is also a story about a Vietnamese sports community that is seeing more women leave their comfort zones. They do not run to become famous. They do not run to please anyone. They run because they love freedom, love challenging themselves and love their own bodies with all their unique characteristics. On long trails, nobody asks whether you have a perfect body. People only ask whether you still have enough strength to take the next step. Van Trang answered that question with her own feet: she finished among the leaders, conquered steep mountains and achieved what many thought was difficult for a mother of four. Her straightforward replies did not only defend herself. They became a voice for female runners who constantly hear unfair criticism from outside the course. Her story reminds everyone that achievements, effort and discipline are what should be celebrated, while personal appearance should not be treated as a source of entertainment.