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

Van Trang crossed the finish line in 4 hours 26 minutes at the 42km distance of Y Ty Golden Season 2026. She not only became the women's champion but also finished second overall, ahead of almost all male runners. The route to the top of Lao Than Mountain, 2,860m above sea level, was a story of endurance, discipline, and dealing with negative comments. The 42km trail course in Y Ty, Lao Cai has more than 1,300m of accumulated elevation. For Van Trang, the hardest moment came when her body nearly ran out of energy on steep slopes. She said she focused on each section ahead, kept her breathing steady, managed her strength, and refueled at the right time. “I kept telling myself: Stay calm, as long as I still have energy, I still have a chance. This endurance comes from regularity and discipline. Besides running, I combine gym, swimming, and supplementary exercises to build fitness day by day,” Van Trang said. After the award ceremony, her image appeared in some running groups with disrespectful comments about her body. Many comments focused on her natural bust in tight sportswear. Instead of staying silent, she responded firmly. “I dare anyone to carry two grapefruits and run 42km or 55km on mountain trails. I run with my legs, not with my appearance. What others see as pressure, I see as vitamin C for my spirit. The important thing is that I still finished and I am healthy. Judge all you want. I run with my own legs, not with other people's mouths,” she said. The Hanoi runner also hoped people would look at women in sport more civilly. Effort and achievement should come first; appearance is a personal matter. When seeing a woman on the trail, people should see someone trying to conquer her own limits. Asked whether she would wear looser or more conservative clothes to avoid stares, she said no. Sports clothing must first be comfortable and safe. If she changed just because of negative gossip, she would always live under other people's eyes. “I choose to focus on the race and my goal. Marathon teaches me that I will not always run in perfect conditions. Life is the same. Compliments make me happy, criticism helps me reflect, and ill-intentioned words I learn to ignore,” Van Trang shared. After the glory at Lao Than, her next targets are the VMM 70km ultra trail and then a 100km race at the end of the year. She closed this chapter with the message: “Let achievements speak. I don't need to become the version others want to see. Each day, I only need to become a better version of myself.”