Vân Trang wins Y Tý Mùa Vàng 2026: 'I run with my legs, not with other people's mouths'

On September 6, 2026, the Y Ty Mua Vang mountain race in Lao Cai witnessed a memorable milestone for Vietnamese trail running. Vân Trang, nicknamed Jang Doll, a mother of four from Hanoi, won the women's 42km category in 4 hours 26 minutes. She also finished second overall, ahead of nearly every male runner. The result was even more impressive because the route had more than 1,300m of elevation gain and reached around 2,860m near Lảo Thẩn peak. Vân Trang said she stayed calm, controlled her breathing, managed her energy, and split the course into small goals. She credited her endurance to a strict routine of running, gym, swimming, and supplemental exercises. After the race, some online commenters focused on her body instead of her achievement. They used rude words like 'carrying two grapefruits' to mock her. Vân Trang immediately responded: 'I challenge anyone to carry two grapefruits for 42km on mountain trails! I run with my legs, not with my appearance. I run with my own feet, not with other people's mouths.' She said women in sport deserve to be recognized for effort and results. She refused to change her clothes because of stares. In her view, sports clothing should be comfortable and safe. Changing her appearance to avoid judgment would mean living under other people's eyes forever. The statement 'I run with my legs, not with other people's mouths' became a declaration of self-respect. Yet her sharp response was powerful because she had real results to back it up. This also shows that women runners without a podium finish still face a much quieter battle. They need a sports culture that looks at performance more than body shape. Vân Trang is already aiming for the 70km distance at VMM and then the 100km race at the end of 2026. Her final message: 'Let results speak. I don't need to become the version others want to see. Every day, I just need to become a better version of myself.'