Van Trang Wins Women's 42km at Y Ty Golden Season 2026: Runs with Her Feet, Not Her Mouth

Van Trang reaches the finish line at Y Ty (Photos and video in the article provided by the athlete) The Y Ty Golden Season 2026 race (on September 6) witnessed one of the memorable moments in trail running. Overcoming the steep paths, Van Trang (nickname Jang Doll) won the women's 42km category. Notably, the mother of 4 children born in 2026 even secured 2nd place overall, beating almost all male runners (losing to only one) with a time of 4 hours 26 minutes. However, beside the proud achievement at Lảo Thẩn peak 2.860m above sea level, she also sparked discussion with her straightforward, spirited response to negative comments about her appearance from netizens. The 42km trail course at Y Ty (Lao Cai) has accumulated total elevation of over 1,300m. The steep terrain and thin air in the highlands are always a nightmare for any runner. Speaking about the moment of almost running out of energy to conquer the mountain, Van Trang shared with the reporter: "The 42km course has steep sections that drain the body of energy. At that time I only focused on the path ahead, maintained breathing, distributed energy and timed supplements. I always remind myself: 'Stay calm, as long as there's strength there's still hope'. This endurance comes from consistency and discipline. Besides running, I combine gym, swimming and supplementary exercises to build physical strength daily". Running with feet, not by mouth! Right after stepping off the podium, Van Trang's image was suddenly brought into running groups for gossip. Instead of praising professional records, the crowd focused on her "natural" figure in the tight sports outfit, even using phrases like "carrying 2 grapefruits while running" to mock. Not choosing silence, the female runner immediately responded bluntly: "I said the truth, who would carry 2 grapefruits running 42km or 55km mountain roads! I run with my legs, not relying on appearance to be brought into groups to talk! People see pressure, I see it as 'vitamin C supplement' for the spirit. The important thing is I still finished, still healthy. As for judging, judge away, I run with my own feet, not by the mouth of people!". A runner from Hanoi straightly expressed hope for a more civilized view of "sporting goddesses": "Women in sports should be recognized first by effort and achievement. Appearance is each person's story, achievement is the result of years of training. When seeing a girl on the running path, I hope people see a person striving to conquer her own limits". She declared: "Run with feet, not by mouth!" Facing the question of wearing modest or loose clothes to avoid stares, the Y Ty champion said firmly: "Sports clothing must first be comfortable and safe. If one changes oneself just because of fear of criticism, perhaps one will always live according to others' eyes. I choose to focus on the path and my goals. Marathon taught me that I don't always run in perfect conditions. Life is the same. Compliments make me happy, criticism helps me reflect, while ill-intentioned words I learn to ignore". The glory at Lảo Thẩn ends, the next goal of the mother of 4 is to conquer the more intense Ultra Trail category in the upcoming VMM 70km race and at the end of the year the 100km event. "Just let the achievement speak. I don't need to become the version others want to see. Only becoming a better version of myself each day is enough", Van Trang expressed determination for the next journey. Some images of Van Trang participating in other running events.