Mother of four wins Y Ty 42km: 'I run with my legs, not with the world's mouth

Among the golden terraced fields of Lao Than mountain, Van Trang ran like an arrow through the mist. She crossed the finish line at 4 hours 26 minutes, becoming the first female finisher of the 42km category and second overall at the Y Ty Golden Season 2026 – ahead of nearly every male runner on the course. Hours later, instead of celebrating one of the most impressive trail performances in Vietnam that weekend, a segment of social media turned the conversation to her chest. The Hanoi mother of four was mocked as “carrying two grapefruits while running.” Y Ty is not an easy course. The 42km route in the northern border district of Lao Cai has more than 1,300 meters of cumulative elevation gain. The air is thin, the slopes are relentless, and every step demands focus. Van Trang said she simply broke the race into small pieces, controlled her breathing and told herself: “Stay calm. As long as I have energy, I still have a chance.” Her strength did not come from luck. Besides running, she does gym, swimming and supplementary exercises to build endurance day by day. For a mother of four, maintaining such discipline means arranging family life around training. That deserves more respect than any comment about her body. In my years covering running events, I have seen many female runners photographed in unflattering moments and turned into online mockery. They are rarely asked about pace, climbing strategy or nutrition. They are asked why they wear tight clothes. It reveals a subtle disease: no matter how well a woman runs, she still has to pass a visual test. Van Trang chose to answer directly. “I dare anyone to carry two grapefruits 42km or 55km on mountain roads! I run with my legs, not with my looks,” she said. Her sharp reply resonated because it voiced the frustration many sportswomen have swallowed for years. The irony is clear: when a muscular man wins, the conversation stays on strength and speed. When a woman wins, her body becomes public property. Some advised her to stay silent, but silence has never stopped judgment. By saying “judge all you want, I run with my own legs,” she is setting a new standard: athletic achievement comes before aesthetics. Van Trang also defended her choice of clothing. Sportswear must be comfortable and safe, she said. Changing herself to avoid stares would mean living by other people’s eyes. For female runners, tight apparel is practical – it reduces friction and allows better movement on technical terrain. Forcing women to cover up is, in effect, punishing them for having a female body. She is now aiming at the VMM 70km race and, later this year, the 100km distance. For a mother of four, 42km is only a milestone. But for those who looked at her with contempt, the real question is: why should a woman who just ran 42km and beat hundreds of men still need to explain her breasts? When the golden season fades, what remains is not only the trophy. It is the image of a woman running through the mountain mist while a crowd slowly learns to see differently. Van Trang answered with her legs – and those legs are still moving forward.