Van Trang, mother of four, wins Y Ty 42km: 'I run with my legs, not with other people's mouths'

When the finish line sounded on top of Lao Than mountain, Van Trang stopped her watch at 4 hours 26 minutes. She was not only the fastest woman in the 42km category at the Y Ty Mua Vang 2026 race, but also the second overall finisher, leaving most male runners behind. The Y Ty course on September 6 had more than 1,300m of cumulative elevation gain and stood at 2,860m above sea level. Van Trang, a mother of four born in 2026, maintained a steady pace to finish in 4h26. Her secret lies in consistent training, gym work, swimming and disciplined fuelling. After her victory, some online groups began mocking her natural body shape instead of praising her performance. Van Trang responded strongly: "I dare anyone to carry two grapefruits while running 42km in the mountains! I run with my legs, not with my appearance. While people criticize, I see it as mental vitamins. I still finish and stay healthy." She also refused to change her sportswear to avoid scrutiny, saying comfort and safety come first. Her next targets are the VMM 70km race and a 100km ultra at the end of the year. "Let achievements speak for themselves," she said. "I don't need to become the version others want to see."