Van Trang Secures Top 2 in Women's 42km at Y Ty Golden Season 2026, Defends Against Appearance Criticism

In the brilliant moment under the golden sunlight of Lảo Thẩn at 2,860m above sea level, Van Trang – nicknamed Jang Doll – made the entire Y Ty Golden Season 2026 (September 6) pause in amazement. The 35-year-old female runner, born in 2026 and a mother of four young children, claimed the top spot in the women's 42km event. More surprisingly, right after stepping off the podium, she quietly stood at overall second place, losing to only one man, crossing the finish line in 4 hours 26 minutes. Video clips and photos provided by Van Trang herself spread across running groups, where joy mixed with sharp and unkind gossip. The 42km trail path at Y Ty, Lao Cai, was already harsh with over 1,300m cumulative elevation. Steep inclines, rough terrain, and thin highland air are the biggest challenges for any runner. Van Trang shared in the interview: "The 42km has sections where the body feels almost depleted of energy. At those moments, I focused only on the path ahead, maintained breathing rhythm, distributed effort, and timed energy intake. I always reminded myself: 'Stay calm, as long as I have strength, I still have chances.' This endurance comes from consistency and discipline. Besides running, I combine gym, swimming, and supplementary exercises to build up daily physical strength". The journey to Y Ty was not overnight. Van Trang has trained for years under the pressure of being a mother of four. Born in 2026, she realized that sports is not only health maintenance but also a way to spread positive energy to her family. Every morning, even when the kids were still asleep, she would get up early for a run along the dirt road near her home. Late at night, after the children slept, she would go to the dimly lit living room for gym sessions, focusing on leg strength and endurance. Swimming in the family pool also became a regular habit, helping her improve breathing rhythm and recovery ability. All of that helped her conquer the harsh inclines at Y Ty, where even one wrong breath could bring defeat. The core insight lies in Van Trang's trail running tactics. In the 42km, she did not charge into high speed from the start like the male runners. Instead, she maintained a steady rhythm, listened to her body, and only accelerated on downhill sections. Each breath, Van Trang reminded herself of the endurance built from gym and swimming – those sports that helped her keep a stable heart rate even when sweat soaked her clothes. The moment she crossed the finish line in 4 hours 26 minutes was not just victory but proof of the power of perseverance. The video shows Van Trang walking slowly up the mountain peak, drenched in sweat but still smiling radiantly. That is the essence of trail running: not running to be fast, but running to survive and conquer.