Van Trang, mother of four, wins Y Ty Golden Season women's 42km and teaches the lesson 'run with your feet, not others' mouths'

In the early morning of September 6, 2026, at Y Ty Golden Season Vietnam trail race in Lao Cai, Van Trang crossed the finish line of the 42km course in 4 hours 26 minutes. She was the first female finisher and ranked second overall among all 42km runners, beating nearly the entire men's field except one male runner. The route has more than 1,300 meters of accumulated elevation gain and climbs toward Lao Than peak at 2,860 meters. Van Trang, born in 2026, is a mother of four from Hanoi and runs under the nickname Jang Doll. She described her race as a disciplined process: focusing on each section, controlling breathing, managing energy intake, and telling herself to stay calm. Her preparation includes not only running but also gym workouts, swimming, and supplementary strength sessions. After the race, her image was posted in running groups where some people made rude comments about her bust and used vulgar comparisons. Van Trang reacted firmly: she challenged anyone to carry such a burden over a 42km or 55km mountain route, and said she runs with her feet, not with her appearance. Her message was simple: she will not change her body or her racing outfit just to satisfy judgmental observers. The controversy highlights how female athletes are often scrutinized for their appearance rather than their performance. Van Trang stated that sportswear must be comfortable and safe, and she refused to let haters control her choices. Her victory at Y Ty is also a launching point for bigger goals: the 70km category at Vietnam Mountain Marathon and a 100km race by the end of 2026. The numbers in her story are impossible to ignore: 4:26, first female 42km finisher, second overall behind only one male competitor. Those are facts that cannot be erased by body-shaming. Van Trang wants to keep improving and proving that motherhood and athletic excellence can go together. The real question is not whether she can finish 70km or 100km. It is whether audiences will finally stop judging female runners by their bodies and start seeing the effort and results.