Vân Trang wins 42km at Y Ty: ‘I run with my feet, not with other people’s mouths’

Among the golden terraced fields in the northern border area, the Y Ty Golden Season 2026 trail running event witnessed an impressive moment by a Vietnamese woman. On the morning of September 6, Vân Trang – nicknamed Jang Doll, born in 2026 and mother of four – finished the women’s 42km race in 4 hours 26 minutes. She took the top position among female runners and placed second overall, finishing only behind one male runner. Beyond the result, her story stood out because of prejudice she faced after crossing the finish line. The 42km route has more than 1,300 meters of elevation gain, beneath Lảo Thẩn peak at 2,860 meters above sea level. The steep terrain and thin air push many runners to quit, yet Vân Trang crossed the line strongly. She told reporters that at one point her body nearly ran out of energy. In that moment, she focused on each section ahead, kept her breathing steady, distributed her strength, and fueled at the right time. She told herself: “Stay calm; as long as you still have strength, you still have a chance.” Behind her 4-hour-26-minute finish is a disciplined training routine. Vân Trang combines running with gym work, swimming, and supplementary exercises. She does not hide her ambition to race even longer distances, but what sparked debate was how she answered body-shaming comments. After photos of her finish spread, some running groups made rude remarks about her naturally large chest in tight sportswear. They used the phrase “carrying two grapefruits while running” to mock a person who had just completed 42km of mountain trail. Instead of staying silent, Vân Trang hit back: “I dare anyone to carry two grapefruits and run 42km or 55km on mountain roads! I run with my feet, not with my appearance. Your talk does not take me anywhere. When others see pressure, I see more vitamin C for my spirit. What matters is that I still finished and I am still healthy. Judge all you want, I run with my own legs, not with other people’s mouths.” Her phrase “run with your feet, not with anyone’s mouth” quickly went viral among runners. For Vân Trang, endurance is not only about muscles but also about mental strength strong enough to cross the line. She also urged people to view women in sport with more respect: “For women taking part in sports, effort and results should come first. When you see a girl on a race course, I hope you see someone trying to push her own limits.” Asked whether she would wear looser outfits to avoid stares, Vân Trang refused. She believes sportswear must first be comfortable and safe. If she changed herself just to satisfy critics, she would spend her whole life living under other people’s gaze. Marathon taught her that conditions are not always perfect, and life is the same. Compliments make her happy, criticism helps her reflect, and unkind words are best ignored. After Y Ty, Vân Trang is aiming at the VMM 70km race, followed by a 100km race later this year. She closed the interview with a motivating message: “Let results speak. You do not need to become the version others want to see. It is enough to become a better version of yourself every day.” Video, clip and photos in the article are provided by the character.