Van Trang – mother of four conquers Y Ty 42km: 'I run with my legs, not with other people's mouths'

Y Ty commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province – considered the 'roof' of the Northwest with the 2,860m Lảo Thẩn peak – witnessed a memorable moment on September 6, 2026, at the Y Ty Golden Season trail running race. Amid steep mountain trails covered with clouds, a petite woman crossed the finish line in tight running gear, stunning spectators and organizers. That was Van Trang, nicknamed Jang Doll, born in 2026, a Hanoi-based runner. She conquered the 42km distance with a time of 4 hours 26 minutes, finishing as the top female runner. Her achievement was even more remarkable: Van Trang placed second overall, ahead of nearly all male runners. Only the men's champion finished before her. For a trail race with more than 1,300 meters of accumulated elevation, steep terrain and thin highland air, this was an outstanding result. Beyond the impressive time, Van Trang drew attention for her fierce response to online body-shaming. Instead of celebrating her performance, some social media users focused on her chest under her tight sports outfit, using crude comments like 'carrying two grapefruits while running.' Van Trang refused to stay silent. She told reporters: 'I dare anyone to carry two grapefruits while running 42km or 55km on mountain roads! I run with my legs, not with my looks. What others see as pressure, I see as motivation – vitamin C for the spirit. What matters is that I still finished healthy. Judge all you want, I run with my own legs, not with anyone's mouth.' Her story highlights a long-standing issue in Vietnam: prejudice against female athletes' bodies. Many female runners have faced inappropriate comments simply because their bodies don't fit society's narrow standards. Serious runners understand that the body is shaped by years of training. For women, natural biological features may differ, but that never stops them from crossing the finish line. Van Trang remained calm when discussing this topic: 'Sports clothing must first be comfortable and safe. If I changed myself out of fear of being judged, I would always live under other people's eyes. I choose to focus on the road and my goals. Marathon teaches me that we don't always run in perfect conditions; life is the same. Compliments make me happy, criticism helps me reflect, and unkind words – I learn to let them go.' Behind the medal and the smile is a journey of disciplined training. Van Trang is not a professional athlete. She explored training methods herself, building a sustainable fitness system. She combined long weekend runs with gym sessions, swimming, and supplementary strength exercises. That solid base helped her conquer the brutal 42km course. On her race tactics, she said: 'During the 42km distance, some steep sections drained my energy. At those moments, I focused only on the next step, controlled my breathing, distributed my effort, and fueled at the right time. I told myself: stay calm, as long as I have strength, I have hope.' Her journey offers much inspiration. She is a mother of four, balancing family, work and hours of training every week. She represents a generation of Vietnamese runners who value data, respect the process, and commit to long-term goals. Van Trang is already aiming higher. She plans to compete in the 70km category of the Vietnam Mountain Marathon and hopes to finish a 100km race at the end of the year. These distances demand tremendous endurance and mental strength. Given her performance at Y Ty, fans believe she can do it. She ended with a powerful message: 'Let achievements speak. I don't need to become a version others want to see. I just need to become a better version of myself every day.' Her attitude and her exceptional finish will inspire many Vietnamese women who hesitate to start running – because an athlete's true value is not defined by gossip, but by the paths her feet have traveled.