Van Trang wins women's 42km at Y Ty Yellow Season 2026: 'I run with my legs, not with the gossipers' mouths'

Y Ty Yellow Season 2026 closed with a special mark for Vietnamese trail running. On September 6, among the steep mountain roads of the northern border province of Lao Cai, female runner Van Trang (nickname Jang Doll) made her name on the women's 42km podium. The 2026-born mother of four not only claimed the highest position among women but also crossed the finish line as second overall in the entire race. On the route with more than 1,300 meters of cumulative elevation gain, she was beaten by only one male runner. The most impressive detail is her time of 4 hours 26 minutes, a result that forced many male athletes to respect the terrain around 2,860-meter-high Lao Than Peak. Y Ty Yellow Season has become known as one of the toughest trail challenges in northwest Vietnam. Steep slopes, slippery rocks and thin air at high altitude do not forgive anyone lacking careful preparation. Speaking after the finish, Van Trang said she had relied strictly on her physical and mental plan to keep her form. "In the 42km distance, there were slopes that almost drained my energy. At those moments, I focused only on the next step, kept my breathing steady, rationed my strength and refueled at the right time. I kept telling myself: 'Stay calm, as long as you have energy, you still have a chance'," she said. She also stressed that endurance comes not from luck but from consistency and discipline. Beyond weekend long runs, Van Trang maintains gym sessions, swimming and various supplementary exercises to build a solid base before each major race. However, her story is not only about professional achievement. Shortly after her podium image appeared online, some people left inappropriate comments about her appearance. They ignored her effort to conquer a route with more than 1,300 meters of elevation gain and ignored the fact that she had beaten hundreds of female rivals to stand at the highest position. Instead, their eyes were drawn to her natural large bust under a tight athletic outfit and turned it into a joke. Phrases such as "carrying two grapefruits while running" appeared in running groups, overshadowing a memorable moment with disrespect. Refusing to remain silent, Van Trang delivered a straightforward response. "Truthfully, I challenge anyone to carry two grapefruits and run 42km or 55km of mountain trails! I run with my legs, I do not run because of my appearance, so why put me in a group to gossip? Others see pressure, I see it as vitamin C that fuels my spirit. What matters is that I still finished, still healthy and happy. Judge as you like, I run with my legs, not with the gossipers' mouths!" Her bold reply quickly spread through the running community. Many defended her, saying that she deserved to be recognised for effort and dedication rather than physical scrutiny. For the woman from Hanoi, running 42km of mountain terrain is clear proof of her ability to push the limits of her body. She said she has faced many discriminatory stares while taking part in sport, but has never considered changing herself for the crowd. Van Trang believes the problem is not what women wear but how others look at them. Asked whether she would choose looser, more conservative clothing to avoid prying eyes, she replied firmly: "Sports clothing must first of all be comfortable and safe. If I change myself just because I am afraid of hurtful comments, then I will always live under other people's eyes. I choose to focus on the route and my goal. Marathon teaches me that I will not always run under perfect conditions. Life is the same. Compliments make me happy, criticism helps me reflect, and hostile talk I simply learn to ignore." She also sent a message to those who lack a civilized view of women in sport. "Women playing sport should be looked at first of all through their effort and achievement. Appearance is each person's own story, but achievement is the result of years of training. When you see a girl on the race course, I hope people see someone who is trying to conquer her own limits." Her response not only defended herself but also exposed a lingering blind spot in the way society regards female athletes. For years, female athletes have had to deal with negative comments about their bodies even when they achieved excellent results. That makes the mother of four's journey over Lao Than slopes more meaningful than a medal. Not stopping at the women's 42km title at Y Ty Yellow Season, Van Trang is eyeing a bigger goal. Next, she plans to conquer 70km at the upcoming VMM race and later a 100km event at the end of the year. If 42km is already enough to daunt many, her 100km target shows an ambition without limits. Van Trang proves that raising four children and doing high-intensity sport can coexist with scientific time management. Early mornings and late evenings after the children sleep are precious training windows. Many times she had to run while exhausted from childcare, but discipline kept her from quitting. She believes every passing day is another day of sharpening both body and mind. Her story is evidence that Asian women, especially Vietnamese women, are breaking gender stereotypes in sport. Trail running had long been viewed as a men's world because of its demanding terrain, endurance and psychology. A mother of four finishing second overall before almost all male participants sends a clear signal: the ability of female athletes has never been limited, only society's perspective is slower to catch up. From a professional point of view, coaches encourage female athletes to build an endurance base at shorter distances before progressing to marathon and ultra trail. Van Trang says supplementary disciplines such as gym and swimming help prevent injury when she performs high training volume. She also stressed that long runs improve endurance and teach her to listen to her body in order not to mask warning signs of overtraining. Returning home from Y Ty, Van Trang immediately began preparing for the VMM 70km. An ultra trail longer than 70km with unpredictable weather demands a scientific pacing strategy. She admitted that she needs more long endurance sessions simulating mountain terrain, better nutrition and more attention to recovery. For her, each race is a new diary page and she is determined to write it beautifully. Fans have overwhelmed Van Trang with congratulations. Many see her as a role model for women who want to run but fear being judged by the crowd. In response, she encourages mothers with young children to start with small goals and trust the process of accumulation. Just standing up, lacing shoes and walking out the door allows anyone to create their own miracle. Online gossip may not stop overnight, but Van Trang has shown that living fully with passion is the most powerful answer. She does not need to become the version others want to see. "Let achievement speak. I do not need to be the version others want to see. It is enough to become a better version of myself every day," she said with a confident smile. The journey at Y Ty Yellow Season 2026 put Van Trang on top of the women's 42km rankings, but the echo left for the running community is a firm spirit against ill-intentioned looks. When some choose to compare a woman's body with fruit, Van Trang reminds them that her legs just ran 42km through the northwest mountains and she is preparing for an even longer journey. Her message is simple enough to create a wave: women who run do not need anyone's permission. They do not need to dress more conservatively to please others. They do not need to apologize for their bodies. They only need good shoes, perseverance, and respect for their own dreams. The glory at Lao Than has closed, and Van Trang is moving forward again. The 42km route was just the starting point for the woman to take on longer challenges where shallow judgments have no place. Vietnam's running community is waiting for her inspired performance on the ultra trail in the near future. Whatever the result, Van Trang has already won a far more important race: the fight to reclaim respect for women's bodies in sport. She runs with her legs, runs with her heart and runs without needing to explain anything to those who prefer to look through prejudiced eyes.