From the top of Lao Than to a bold reply: Van Trang runs with her feet, not with the mouth of the crowd

When Van Trang crossed the finish line at the Y Ty Golden Season 2026, her throat was dry, her legs trembling from exhaustion, but her eyes still shone. She had just completed the 42km course in 4 hours 26 minutes – not only first female, but also second overall, just behind one male runner. Yet hundreds of kilometers of steep climbs, lack of oxygen, and cramps did not bring her down; what made her stop and respond were the rude comments about her breasts on social media. "I run with my legs, not with the mouth of the crowd!" – her words rang out as a manifesto, not just for herself but for all women being scrutinized on the racecourse. Y Ty, a highland commune in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai, lies at an altitude of 2,860 meters above sea level. With more than 1,300 meters of cumulative elevation gain, the 42km trail here is a true challenge with steep slopes, slippery rocks, and thin air. For a mother of four, born in 2026, Van Trang (nicknamed Jang Doll) did not come here to play. She had trained for months, combining running with gym, swimming, and auxiliary exercises. While running, she shared: "At that moment, I only focused on each section ahead, kept my breathing steady, distributed my strength, and refueled at the right time. I always reminded myself: 'Stay calm, as long as there is energy, there is hope.'" The remarkable thing is not just her achievement, but how she faced a segment of netizens who chose her body as a topic. They called her breasts "two grapefruits", making jokes instead of acknowledging her effort. Van Trang did not choose silence as a victim. She responded directly and sharply: "To be honest, I dare anyone to carry two grapefruits running 42km or 55km of mountain roads! I run with my legs, not with my appearance, so why are you bringing me into groups to gossip?" Her straightforwardness quickly created a wave of support from the running community, and simultaneously opened up a larger conversation about how to view women in sports. Running is inherently a harsh discipline, where endurance, resilience, and tactics decide everything. When Van Trang climbed to the top of Lao Than, she was not just conquering altitude, but also fighting the fatigue of a body that had gone through four pregnancies. She spoke of building fitness “day by day”, with no magic other than discipline. She did not sprint at the start, instead breaking the distance into sections, maintaining a steady breathing rhythm. These are lessons she drew from her previous marathons. Over the course of a year, she has participated in many races, treating each as a test of her ability to adjust tactics when facing different terrain. Van Trang is not a professional athlete trained systematically in a national team. She is an ordinary woman who discovered her passion, made her own plan, and took responsibility for her results. That is why she feels deeply: "Appearance is a personal matter, but achievement is the result of years of training." Not everyone is born with a 'standard' body, and in sports, what makes a difference has little to do with the viewer's taste. The story of the last hundred meters before the finish line speaks of cracked feet and an exhausted yet determined heart. It would be easy to summarize Van Trang's story with the phrase “golden girl” or a superficial compliment, but what is more profound is how she handled it – respecting herself while setting boundaries with the crowd. When asked whether she would choose more modest clothing to avoid prying eyes, she firmly said: "Sportswear must first be comfortable and safe. If I change myself just because I'm afraid of scrutiny, then I will always have to live by other people's eyes." This stance has turned her into an icon of female confidence, for a clear message: achievement must be the only measure, and a woman's beauty lies not in a waistline or a measurement. Those who have followed trail running often say that "the gap on the field is alive, and it changes when someone dares to believe." For Van Trang, that gap exists not only between her and rivals on the course, but also between superficial judgment and true understanding of the sport. Watching her strides in recorded videos, I noticed a factor more important than endurance: the tactic of pacing to never lose rhythm. This can be seen in each acceleration on rare flat sections, or how she deliberately slows down on descents – not because she is weak, but because she knows that ahead is another challenge. The scarcity of female long-distance runners in ultra trail events has created a sad reality: when a girl finishes in the top ranks, she has to face unwarranted comments. No one mentions the pain, the fatigue, and the self-doubt she overcame. People only see the tight outfit and think she is “showing off”. Behind that lies a misunderstanding of the nature of sportswear – designed to optimize movement, reduce friction, and make the athlete as comfortable as possible. If Van Trang wore a baggy shirt, she would risk chafing on long runs – one of the basic warnings any runner knows. Over the years, Vietnam's running community has witnessed remarkable growth in trail running, accompanied by the increasing presence of female runners. Each one is a piece of a diverse picture. Yet when a mother of four repeatedly stands on the podium, she not only inspires but also directly breaks gender stereotypes. Van Trang offers a different view of strength – that a woman can be both a mother and a top athlete, and does not need to apologize for that. The glory on Lao Than now closed, Van Trang has announced her next goal: conquering the 70km distance at the upcoming VMM, and at the end of the year, the challenging 100km course. She shared: "Let achievements speak. I don't need to become the version others want to see. I just need to become a better version of myself every day." This reminds me of the concept of the "living gap" in sports – the quiet space between athletes where preparation and personal belief decide who finishes first. For Van Trang, that gap is widening, because she neither chases praise nor retreats from criticism. Experts often tell me that trail running is not just a sport, but a metaphor for life. From Van Trang's story, I realize that to conquer a peak, one needs not only strong legs but also a spirit that refuses to be subdued by external noise. When we talk about athletics, records, and achievements, let us not forget that behind each milestone is a person proving what sport can bring: resilience, freedom, and mutual respect. Van Trang has shown us that, in a way that no timing device can fully record.