Mother of 4 carries 'two grapefruits' for 42km trail: Performance speaks, critics silenced

Van Trang's finish at Y Ty a few days ago sent shockwaves through the trail running community. Not just because of her 4-hour-26-minute time for the 42km distance with over 1,300m of elevation gain, but also because of her defiant response to inappropriate comments about her appearance. The 35-year-old mother of four has proven one thing: in sports, achievement is the ultimate measure of value.

The race among the clouds and the return of a passionate devotee

The Y Ty Golden Season 2026 race, held on September 6, witnessed one of the most impressive performances in the trail event. Overcoming steep terrain with over 1,300m of accumulated elevation, Van Trang (Nickname: Jang Doll) excellently claimed the Top 1 female position in the 42km distance. But more notably, she also secured the overall Top 2 position, outperforming nearly all male runners, finishing behind just one person.

The journey to conquer the 2,860m-high Lao Than peak was a story of disciplined preparation and mental fortitude. Sharing with reporters after the race, the Hanoi runner said: 'There were steep sections in the 42km that nearly drained my energy. At that moment, I just focused on the road ahead, maintaining my breathing, pacing myself, and replenishing energy at the right time.' Her calmness came from a well-structured training regimen: besides running, she incorporates gym, swimming, and supplementary exercises to build endurance.

Every press conference has two stories

Behind the glory of victory, another battle erupted on social media. Shortly after images of Van Trang on the podium were posted, some netizens chose to make negative comments about her appearance, specifically her naturally large bust in form-fitting sportswear. Remarks like 'carrying two grapefruits while running' were not just distasteful but revealed a deep-seated bias against women in high-performance sports.

Choosing not to remain silent, Van Trang fired back directly: 'I dare anyone to carry two grapefruits and run 42km or 55km in the mountains!' Her retort was not just about confidence but also a metaphor for incredible physical strength: to complete such a distance, the body must operate like an optimized machine. She viewed the criticisms as 'Vitamin C' for her spirit and emphasized: 'What matters is that I still finished, still happy and healthy.'

When performance speaks, the story of prejudice remains

Van Trang's response opens a deeper discussion about sports culture in Vietnam. 'When it comes to women in sports, the first thing that deserves recognition is their effort and achievements. Appearance is a personal matter, but achievements are the result of years of training,' she said. This perspective raises a question: Why is such an impressive feat overshadowed by body-related comments? It reflects a gap between awareness and respect for women in sports.

When advised to wear more conservative clothing, Van Trang stood her ground: 'Sportswear must first and foremost be comfortable and safe. If I changed myself for fear of being scrutinized, I would probably end up living according to others' standards.' She chooses to focus on the trail and her goals, turning invisible pressures into motivation—a mental tactic many professional athletes use to overcome external noise.

The journey continues

The glory at Y Ty may be over, but Van Trang's goals are even bigger. The mother of four is eyeing the more grueling Ultra Trail distance at the upcoming VMM 70km race and, later this year, the 100km category. 'Let the results speak for themselves. I don't need to be the version others want to see. Just becoming a better version of myself every day is enough,' she expressed her determination.

Van Trang's story transcends the limits of a race. It is a test of society's willingness to respect women's physical efforts. Anyone has the right to an opinion, but as Van Trang has proven: the world's mouth can talk, but it's the legs that make history on the trails.