Van Trang wins 42km at Y Ty 2026: “I run with my legs, not with the mouths of others”

At the finish area of the Y Ty Mua Vang 2026 race, Van Trang crossed the line after 4 hours and 26 minutes in the 42km distance. Organizers confirmed she was the fastest woman in the event and second overall, behind only one male runner. Many applauded, but on some online forums the story was framed differently. Comments such as “carrying two pomelos while running” were directed at her figure. Asked about it, Van Trang did not avoid the question: “I dare anyone to carry two pomelos for 42km or 55km of mountain trails. I run with my legs, not with my appearance.” Y Ty Mua Vang 2026 took place on September 6 in Lao Cai, where terraced rice fields in harvest season created a poetic backdrop. Beauty, however, did not mean easy running. The 42km course included more than 1,300 meters of cumulative elevation gain around Mount Lao Than, which reaches 2,860 meters above sea level. Thin air made breathing harder, and a small fueling mistake could force a runner to walk for a long section. For Van Trang — born in 2026, nicknamed Jang Doll and mother of four — the challenge was even bigger because she had to balance family life with disciplined training. In sports, numbers only matter when placed in context. A 4:26 finish on a 42km trail route with more than 1,300 meters of gain is a strong result. Finishing ahead of most male runners suggests she solved not only physical but also tactical challenges. Her approach was to stay calm, control her breathing, manage effort and fuel. “Focus on each section, keep moving, and as long as I still have energy, I still have a chance,” she said. That endurance, she explained, came from consistency: regular running, gym work, swimming and supplementary exercises. The online criticism created a strange paradox: instead of discussing her performance, part of the crowd focused on her chest and asked her to change her clothes. Van Trang rejected that idea. Sports clothing must first be comfortable and safe, and changing herself to avoid judgment would mean living her entire life through the eyes of others. She also offered a calm view of criticism. Praise makes her happy, negative comments make her reflect, and malicious words should be ignored. In many ways, that was the same pacing strategy she used on the mountain: do not waste energy on unnecessary battles, just keep moving to the finish. Her next targets are even more demanding: the VMM 70km race and a 100km ultra-trail race later in 2026. Moving from 42km to 70km and then 100km will require longer training cycles, better sleep routines and more careful race-day nutrition. Still, the mental strength shown by Van Trang may be as important as her physical preparation. At Y Ty, she proved that her final answer was written not by words but by her legs. The data was clear: 42km, over 1,300 meters of climb and second place overall. Her message for the rest of the journey: “Let achievement speak. I do not need to become the version others want to see; I only need to become a better version of myself every day.”