Vân Trang Wins Top 1 Female 42km at Y Tý Golden Season 2026, Overtakes Male Runners, Responds to Body Gossip

Vân Trang crosses the finish line at Y Tý (Clip and photos in the article provided by the athlete) The Golden Season 2026 Y Tý Run (on September 6) witnessed one of the memorable moments in the trail running category. Overcoming the steep paths, Vân Trang (nickname Jang Doll) excellently won the top 1 female 42km category. More notably, the mother of 4 children born in 2026 this year proudly took the top 2 overall position in the entire race, overtaking almost the entire male runner group (only losing to 1 person) when crossing the finish with a time of 4 hours 26 minutes. However, besides the proud achievement on Lảo Thẩn peak at 2.860m above sea level, she also sparked a wave of discussion with her very frank and charismatic response to the gossips and negative comments about her appearance from a portion of netizens. The 42km trail course at Y Tý (Lào Cai) has a total accumulated height of more than 1,300m. The steep terrain and thin air in the highlands are always a nightmare for any runner. Speaking about the moment of almost depleting energy to conquer the mountain peak, Vân Trang shared with the reporter: "The 42km course has some steep sections that make the body almost run out of energy. At that time, I only focused on the path ahead of me, maintained breathing rhythm, distributed energy and supplemented it at the right time. I always reminded myself: 'Stay calm, as long as there is strength, there is still opportunity'. This endurance comes from regularity and discipline. Besides running, I combine gym, swimming and various supplementary exercises to accumulate physical strength every day". Run with your feet, not by words! Right after stepping down from the podium, Vân Trang's image was unexpectedly brought up in some running groups for derogatory discussion. Instead of honoring the professional record, the crowd focused on the large natural "1" of her under the tight sports attire, even using the phrase "carrying 2 grapefruit while running" to mock. Not choosing to stay silent, the female runner immediately retorted directly and harshly: "I'm telling the truth, who carries 2 grapefruit running 42km or 55km mountain roads! I run with my legs, not because of my appearance. People see pressure, I see it as the driving force for 'vitamin C supplement' for the spirit. The important thing is that I still finished, and I'm still healthy. As for criticism, let them criticize, I run with my own feet, not by words!". The runner from Hanoi straight to the point expressed the hope that the public should have a more civilized view of the "female athletes": "First, female athletes in sports should be recognized by effort and achievement. Appearance is a personal matter, while achievement is the result of years of training. When looking at a girl on the running path, I hope everyone sees a person who is striving to conquer her own limits". She declared: "Run with feet, not by words!". Facing the question if she would wear more conservative or loose clothing to avoid prying eyes, the Y Tý champion firmly said: "Sports attire must first be comfortable and safe. If I change myself just to avoid criticism, perhaps I will always have to live according to others' eyes. I choose to focus on the running path and my goals. Marathon taught me that not always do I run in perfect conditions. Life is the same. Compliments make me happy, criticisms help me reflect, while ill-intentioned words I learn to ignore". The glory at Lảo Thẩn is over, the next goal of the mother of 4 children is to conquer the more intense Ultra Trail distance in the upcoming VMM 70km race and at the end of the year the 100km event. "Let the achievement speak. I don't need to become the version that others want to see. Just becoming a better version of myself every day is enough", Vân Trang expressed determination for the next journey. Some images of Vân Trang participating in other running events. The Golden Season 2026 Y Tý Run is not only a sports event but also reflects the vigorous vitality of the local trail running scene in Lào Cai highlands. With hundreds of runners participating from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to neighboring provinces, the event created unforgettable emotional moments. Vân Trang is living proof of that. As a mother of four children, born in 2026, she still persists in pursuing her passion for trail running. Every morning, after putting the kids to sleep, she takes time to run to maintain health and balance in family life. That persistence is not only shown through the top 1 female 42km achievement but also through how she handled the gossips on social media. Instead of staying silent, Vân Trang chose to publicly respond, affirming the value of effort and achievement rather than appearance. The 42km trail course at Y Tý (Lào Cai) with a total accumulated height of more than 1,300m requires careful preparation in terms of physical strength and psychology. Runners must face steep sections, rocks, and thin air in the highlands. Vân Trang shared that she always focused on the path ahead, maintained a steady breathing rhythm, and supplemented energy at the right time. "Stay calm, as long as there is strength, there is still opportunity" is the phrase she reminded herself while depleting energy. That endurance comes from regularity and discipline. Besides running, she combines gym, swimming, and various supplementary exercises to accumulate physical strength. These habits help her maintain high performance in long distances, especially under harsh mountain conditions. After crossing the finish with a time of 4 hours 26 minutes, Vân Trang quickly stepped down from the podium with a radiant smile. But that moment was quickly exploited by some running groups on social media for derogatory discussion. Instead of honoring the professional record, a portion of netizens focused on her body under the tight sports attire, even using the phrase "carrying 2 grapefruit while running" to mock. This is a typical example of how social media can turn a sports achievement into a negative topic. Vân Trang did not choose to stay silent. She retorted directly: "I'm telling the truth, who carries 2 grapefruit running 42km or 55km mountain roads! I run with my legs, not because of my appearance." That response was not only strong but also deeply explanatory, emphasizing that achievement is the result of long-term training rather than appearance. The runner from Hanoi, who directly followed and participated in various running events, spoke out in support. He expressed the hope that everyone should have a more civilized view of female athletes. "First, female athletes in sports should be recognized by effort and achievement. Appearance is a personal matter, while achievement is the result of years of training." Those words rang out like a call for changing social perception. Vân Trang continued to affirm: "Run with feet, not by words!" She emphasized that marathon taught her to ignore ill-intentioned words, focusing on goals and real conditions. When asked if she would change clothing to avoid prying eyes, Vân Trang firmly refused. "Sports attire must first be comfortable and safe." She explained that living according to others' eyes would make her forever unfree. Life is like running a marathon: not always perfect, but persistence is the key. The glory at Lảo Thẩn is over, but the next goal of the mother of 4 children is still long. She aims for the VMM 70km Ultra Trail race, which is more intense, and the 100km event at the end of the year. "Let the achievement speak. I don't need to become the version that others want to see. Just becoming a better version of myself every day is enough", Vân Trang expressed determination. To understand more about Vân Trang's journey, we need to look back at the trail running scene in Vietnam. Local events like Y Tý not only attract amateur runners but also serve as a playground for professional athletes. The 2.860m above sea level at Lảo Thẩn requires adaptation to low oxygen conditions, making many runners stop midway. Vân Trang overcame all that through intelligent pacing strategy: running slow on the initial steep sections, accelerating on flat parts, and resting at the right times. The 4 hours 26 minutes time is not just a record number but also proof of her superior physical endurance. Images of Vân Trang in clips and photos provided by herself show a dynamic, energetic woman despite being a mother. She frequently participates in various running events to train, from short trails to ultra long ones. Outdoor training sessions help her maintain running rhythm, combined with gym to increase muscle strength and swimming to improve breathing ability. This diverse combination is the secret that helps her overcome challenges like thin air, steep climbs, and rocks. In modern society, gossips about female athletes' appearances still exist. Vân Trang has become a voice for change. She calls on the running community and social media to respect effort rather than appearance. "I run with my own feet, not by words!" is the message she sends to all runners, especially young girls and mothers. Vân Trang's journey continues with greater goals ahead. The upcoming VMM 70km race will be a real test for ultra trail endurance. The 100km event at the end of the year requires even more preparation. Despite the discussions, Vân Trang remains calm. Achievement is her voice, not words. To have a comprehensive view, imagine Vân Trang standing on the podium, sweat-covered but with a radiant smile. That is the moment of victory not only on the running path but also on the path of life. Every runner has their own story, and Vân Trang is the example of female Vietnamese resilience in sports. Vân Trang not only won the race but also won against the gossips. She proves that achievement is the result of training, not appearance. Let achievement speak, and let every day become a better version of yourself.