Jen experienced the ‘gift’ of a meditative journey through the 100Km Angkor Ultra Trail after two years of planning. She also received the unexpected gift of finishing in 5th place—a reward that was never part of her original goal. Finally, she discovered the deeper meaning behind the journey itself.
(1) The ‘Gift’ of Finishing the Run
(This is the visible achievement—the surface layer above the deeper journey of growth and experience.)
Jen crossed the finish line hand in hand with two new friends who had supported her through the final kilometers. To her surprise, the organizers awarded her 5th place—an extra gift she had never anticipated.
This reward was only possible because of the journey that preceded it, as detailed in the following sections.
(2) The ‘Gift’ of the Journey
Jen gained different perspectives on her mind while running alone on long stretches of road and was bathed in kindness from strangers along the way.
Mind and Goal:
In 2023, Jen set a goal to run the 100Km Angkor Ultra Trail in early 2024. However, at the time, she didn’t feel the need to run abroad before first running domestically, such as in Da Lat. She had set the goal, but lacked deep emotional conviction and a clear plan of action.
By the end of 2024, Jen had completed domestic races but had not yet run the Angkor trail.
At the start of 2024, after gaining more experience in domestic races, she redefined her goal: running in Angkor must happen in early 2025. She used visualization, set a clear time frame, and aligned her emotions with a strong, positive reason. By 2025, her body manifested the goal her mind had committed to.
(When the mind is fueled by positive emotions and strong reasons, we act to make it happen in reality.)
Observing the Mind Through Running:
Every time Jen runs a long distance—like 100km—she practices observing different aspects of her mind, especially when her body is exhausted.
Running continuously all day and night becomes a form of meditation—a journey of self-awareness and connection with nature.
When her legs feel tired or painful, Jen’s mind has two choices:
Exaggerate and intensify the pain by focusing on it too seriously.
Observe, be grateful, and continue running.
She particularly experienced the exaggeration and catastrophizing effect toward the end of the race.
A fellow runner's watch indicated they had already completed 100km. But suddenly, Jen saw a sign: “The last 5km.” A fleeting thought of discomfort and annoyance arose—“Why did the organizers make the race longer than expected?”
At that moment, her friend reminded her:
"Let’s enjoy every moment. We’ll definitely arrive much earlier than the maximum time and receive the completion medal."
(A perfect reminder of what Jen often shares with others! ^^)
Jen already knew she would finish ahead of the time limit, so that wasn’t a concern. Instead, what truly bothered her was the difference between expectation and reality—perhaps even a subtle desire to finish early to validate her performance. She got lost in that thought for nearly a kilometer—not due to exhaustion, but due to mental resistance to an unexpected reality.
Then, Jen woke up to her thoughts. She observed, accepted, and let go of the unnecessary seriousness in her mind. As the thought gradually faded, she refocused on the presence of her friend beside her, the road ahead, and the beauty of nature surrounding her.
The Mind and Its Infinite Power:
Our mind holds infinite power—it can create limits or boundlessness.
During her 112km run in Da Lat, Jen reflected on the concept of “the infinity of the standard.”
She had originally set a goal to run 100km once a year, which felt like a significant achievement. Then, in the Da Lat trail, she met a Japanese man who runs 100km every month with the goal of completing 100 ultra races in his lifetime.
This time, in the Angkor trail, she met someone with an even higher standard—a man who runs 100km five times a month to prepare for 160km and even 500km races!
This reinforced an important perspective:
Limits or infinity are shaped by our vision, priorities, commitment to action, and daily gratitude.
‘Bathing in the Kindness of Strangers’
During a difficult period in Malaysia, while transitioning between jobs, Jen experienced a small but profound act of kindness—a stranger offered her their usual seat so she could work more effectively.
This simple gesture deeply touched her, reinforcing her belief:
“Strangers care. We are not alone. Many people love and support us.”
Since that moment, Jen has made it a practice to notice and appreciate kindness in everyday life.
At the Angkor Ultra Trail, she was once again ‘bathed’ in kindness—from individuals to the universe itself.
As the athletes ran past villages, children rushed to the road, waving and calling out “Hello!” and “Hi-five!” to greet them. Their bright smiles, cheerful handshakes, and pure excitement pulled Jen and the other runners back into the present moment—a moment of happiness and gratitude.
For a while, their sore, tired legs seemed to disappear. (This is what we often call "the power of the present.")
‘Bathing in the Wonderfulness of the Universe’
As Jen and her British friend crossed the finish line hand in hand, the system announced that Jen placed 5th and her friend placed 6th in the female category.
Neither of them had aimed to be in the top group—they simply ran together, enjoying the journey.
However, the organizers called Jen back and informed her that they would be awarding her the 5th place trophy.
Trusting the Universe
The next morning, Jen's Cambodian friend arrived to pick her up, expecting to meet her British friend as well. However, she had not yet received a message from her.
Instead of heading directly to Angkor Wat, Jen suggested they wait and have coffee, hoping her British friend would reach out.
Over an hour passed. With her bus leaving soon, Jen felt a sense of incompleteness—she had neither her friend’s number nor hotel details to find her.
At that moment, Jen decided to practice letting go—not forcing the meeting to happen. She shifted her focus to being present with her Cambodian friend, yet deep down, she still believed they would meet again.
When we truly desire something yet let go of attachment and take action… something magical happens.
As Jen stepped out of the café, she suddenly saw her British friend sitting at a table, wearing her finisher’s shirt, having coffee with a South African friend.
Jen smiled and asked,
"Good morning! How are you? You didn’t text me?"
Her British friend looked surprised and replied,
"Wow, I thought I had texted you yesterday!"
Jen laughed and said,
"The universe is helping me. I need to take a trophy photo with you… and give you our ‘trophy.’"
Her British friend smiled and replied,
"It was meant for you…"
They then joined the Cambodian friend at the table, sharing coffee, stories, and gratitude for nearly an hour. It was a beautiful moment of connection, hugs, and deep appreciation.
Through this experience, Jen realized:
She had been clinging to the idea of the "trophy" and "souvenir photo," while her British friend was not.
The Mission of Planting Seeds—The Reason Beyond the Reason
As Jen spent time with her British friend and South African friend, she sensed something profound—a deep calmness, presence, and attentiveness in the way her South African friend listened.
(In the coaching perspective, this is the deepest level of listening—where the listener is so present that others feel safe to share freely.)
Through conversation, Jen learned that her friend had worked in many countries, regularly trained herself through sports and meditation, and dedicated time to helping orphans
Yet, during their time together—on the way to the airport, in quiet reflection—Jen also felt the energy of unspoken emotions.
She listened deeply and sensed a story buried for over 10 years—one of an unhealed relationship with the past and a belief of "not being worthy."
And as they said their goodbyes, her friend looked at Jen and said:
"I was meant to meet you at this time… to face what needed to be faced at the deepest level, to answer the questions I needed to answer." ❤
This was the "gift" beyond awareness, beyond the original goal of running the 100km Angkor Ultra Trail.
Perhaps, the greatest reason for this journey was not just the race…but to plant the seeds of rebirth for someone-because we all deserve it. ❤
