Van Trang makes history at Y Ty Mua Vang 2026: "I run with my legs, not with everyone's mouth"

The mist was still hanging over Mount Lao Than when Van Trang crossed the finish line. She stopped, placed her hands on her knees, and breathed deeply. Behind her lay more than 42 kilometers of steep trails. Ahead of her stood the applause of people who had been waiting since early morning. Although exhausted, she smiled. This 35-year-old mother of four had just achieved something many male runners still dream of: second place overall, behind only one man. The Y Ty Mua Vang 2026 race took place on September 6 in Lao Cai, drawing a large community of trail runners. Few races in Vietnam are as demanding. Runners must climb to 2,860 meters above sea level and face more than 1,300 meters of accumulated elevation gain on the 42km course alone. Thin air, steep slopes, and unpredictable weather make it a true test. So when Van Trang finished in 4 hours 26 minutes, her result was not mere personal achievement; it proved her strategy, endurance, and mental strength. Many people think trail running is only about endurance. But watching Van Trang's race carefully, she never let emotion override reason. She said: "The 42km had slopes that nearly exhausted my energy. At those moments I focused only on the next step, kept my breathing steady, distributed my strength and refueled at the right time. I kept telling myself: Stay calm, as long as I have strength, I still have a chance." That statement sums up the strategy of a runner who understands how people fail in the mountains. Many young athletes start too fast, get caught up in the crowd, and lose their stamina in the second half. Van Trang chose her own rhythm. She kept her footsteps stable, her breathing deep, and knew exactly when to take energy. In trail running, the fastest starter is not always the winner. The real winner is the one who reads the course, understands the body, and knows how to wait. This achievement did not happen overnight. Van Trang not only runs; she also combines gym workouts, swimming, and supplementary exercises to increase muscle strength, improve lung capacity, and avoid injuries on steep terrain. A mother of four is usually stuck between family and work, but she somehow keeps daily discipline. Her training schedule depends on long-term goals, not mood. Finishing second overall in a race like Y Ty means more than a title. Looking at the full results, it shows that Vietnamese women's sports progress is visible not only in stadiums but also on mountain trails. A female runner finishing among the overall leaders is no longer rare. But ranking second overall among hundreds of male runners is still a remarkable signal for the country's running movement. Yet only hours after stepping off the podium, instead of receiving praise, Van Trang was subjected to indecent online comments. Some netizens ignored the 4 hours 26 minutes and the brutal terrain, instead focusing on her chest under tight sportswear. They used disrespectful words, even joking that she carried "two grapefruits" while running. The incident exposed a deeper problem in how society treats women in sports. People often expect women to stay in traditional roles. If a woman does not play sports, they call her weak. If she does, they ask why she trains so hard without caring about her body. When she achieves good results, they try to bring her down with comments about her appearance. This proves that the greatest barrier for women in sports is not the track, but prejudice in the minds of some audiences. They refuse to see a woman conquering her own limits; they only want a body to judge. Van Trang chose to respond directly. She said: "I dare anyone to carry two grapefruits for 42km or 55km on mountain roads! I run with my legs, not with my looks. Why put me in online groups to gossip? Some people see pressure, I see extra vitamin C for my spirit. The important thing is that I still finished and I am happy and healthy. Keep judging if you want. I run with my own legs, not with people's mouths." Her reaction quickly gained support from the running community. No one has the right to force a female athlete to wear loose clothing just to please strangers. Van Trang also wished for a more civilized view toward women in sports. Hard work and achievements must come first. Appearance is private, while results are the reward of years of training. Van Trang's story clarifies the line between constructive comments and insults. Constructive feedback addresses behavior; insults attack the person. Body shaming is neither feedback nor care. It is a way to pull others down. In a society where women already face enough pressure from work, family, and motherhood, their choice to pursue sports should be encouraged, not attacked. Instead of being hurt, Van Trang used humor and personality to turn criticism into motivation. She joked that it was like "adding vitamin C" to her spirit. This is a positive response from someone who understands that it is impossible to please everyone. The life of a long-distance runner always includes moments of running against the wind, and the only way forward is to keep steady and ignore the noise. When asked if she would change her clothing to avoid stares, the Y Ty champion refused. For her, sportswear must first be comfortable and safe. She said: "If I changed myself just because I fear being judged, I would end up living according to other people's eyes forever. I choose to focus on the race and on my goal. Marathon teaches me that we cannot always run in perfect conditions. Life is the same. Praise makes me happy, criticism helps me reflect, and malicious comments I learn to ignore." That statement shows Van Trang does not see sports as a stage to please spectators. She treats it as a part of life, where people face real challenges rather than invisible gossip. She does not need to become a version others want to see. She only needs to become a better version of herself every day. After Y Ty, she is already thinking bigger. Her next goal is the 70km distance at VMM, followed by a 100km race at the end of the year. The trail ahead is harder, but perhaps mountain challenges are easier than social prejudice. She said: "Let achievements speak. We don't need to become a version others want to see. It is enough to become a better version of ourselves each day." The morning at Lao Than cooled down and the course fell silent again. But the echo of victory, however small, travels far. When a woman is mocked for her appearance, she can stay silent. When she chooses to keep moving forward with results and confidence, she is silently opening the way for those who will follow. And perhaps that is a victory not everyone can read on the results table.