Since 2020, the “250km along the Mekong” has become an annual charity event supporting NGO Ptea Clara, based Kandal province. From December 23 to 28, the event will run for the fifth time, starting from Kratie province and ending at Ptea Clara.

French runner Veronique Messina, who has been living in Cambodia since 2012, initiated the event to help struggling Cambodian children. She spoke to ThmeyThmey Digital Media’s Ung Chamroeun.

Ung Chamroeun: This will be the fifth consecutive year of the 250km run. Can you tell me about it?

Veronique Messina: The event started during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was supposed to be a unique event. I was stuck in Cambodia and couldn't participate in ultra-trail races abroad as I was used to, so I decided in December 2020 to create my course here in Cambodia and associate this race with a solidarity cause. 

I'd known Sandra Rousseau, the founder of Ptea Clara, for several years and the cooperation became natural. My initial idea was to run from Kratie to Phnom Penh (250km) in four days. I was supposed to be alone, but a running friend joined me. And about fifteen friends came on bikes. We opened an online fund and raised over $15,000.

In 2021, I resumed my competitions abroad, but given the enthusiasm of my friends, I launched a second event that was as successful as the first and it then became an annual event, open to both runners and cyclists.

Ung Chamroeun: Why a race along the Mekong between Kratie and Pteah Clara (Kien Svay)?

Veronique Messina: I was looking for a long distance in the countryside. My initial idea was to go from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, but the route was too long. The idea of finishing at Ptea Clara made sense, and the Mekong is emblematic of Cambodia. 

I found my stages along the way. I traced a route on the map, and I went for it. For the first two years, the route was done in four stages, of 74km, 46km, 75km and 42km. 

But I then cut the third stage in two to make it more accessible to as many people as possible. The idea is not to make an elitist race but to offer a challenge that everyone can handle (by bike, the race is quite accessible), so that we can share a sporting moment around human values such as solidarity, simplicity, self-improvement, and effort. We learn a lot by getting out of our comfort zone. We learn about ourselves and give to Ptea Clara's children. Everyone wins.

Ung Chamroeun: Tell me more about your connection with Ptea Clara.

Veronique Messina: I've known Sandra Rousseau for several years. I had the opportunity to visit Ptea Clara about 25km from Phnom Penh, which is a protected place for children in need. It's an association approved by the Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs. 

The government sometimes places babies or children in emergency situations. Ptea Clara is there to take them in for as long as they need. Around sixty children live at Ptea Clara, which offers them shelter, care, education and all the affection and security they lack. 

Not all of them are orphans. If the family situation allows, and after a social investigation, they are sometimes returned to their families. It's a refuge. A temporary or sometimes permanent solution that allows each child to grow and rebuild. 

The NGO also helps children in the surrounding villages, opening their doors for sporting or educational activities. The NGO just celebrated its 15th anniversary this year.

Ung Chamroeun: How many people take part each year? What about this year?

Veronique Messina: I limit the number of participants to around 20. Accommodation capacities are limited in some villages, and I prefer a small group atmosphere that allows mutual aid and exchanges between all.

We spent three nights camping with local people in Krouch Chhmar, at the Ptea Kandal pagoda in Srey Santhor, and the Blue Indigo Meditation and Yoga Center in Puk Russey. We stay in guest houses (Kratie) or basic hotels (Kampong Cham) on other nights. For some, it's their first night camping. 

This year, four runners will be on the entire course, One team will be on the bike and run (two riders share a bike), and eight cyclists will be present. On the first and last days, we'll be joined by other runners/riders. In Kratie, a dozen runners will be along the Mekong for 75 km. There will be many more on the last day, and we'll all cross the finish line together in Ptea Clara.

Ung Chamroeun: The stages of racing?

Veronique Messina: There are five stages. 75km from Kratie province to Krouch Chhmar district (Tboung Khmum Province), 46km from Krouch Chhmar to Kampong Cham province, 50km from Kampong Cham to Srey Santhor district, 35km from Srey Santhor to Puk Russey (Kandal province), 42km from Puk Russey to Pteah Clara.

Ung Chamroeun: Who are the outstanding participants? Kim Kok, Khy Sophea? And the others?

Veronique Messina: Kim Kok (Kim Saroeun) is our star runner, present since the second event, and who motivates and trains many Khmers thanks to his group KKRC (Kim Kok Running Club). It's partly thanks to him that running activities got off the ground in Cambodia.

Chenda Heng ran last year and was the first Cambodian woman to finish the event, without having any previous real experience. This year she'll be there for the first and last day, along with six other Cambodian runners.

Among the four runners is a girl who has come from Australia to visit Cambodia for the first time.

I'd also like to mention Luc, a friend who's been with us since the start, helping me to find my bearings on the bike. Franck, a French-Khmer sportsman, will be teaming up with his son in Bike & Run.

Khy Sophea will be the organizer this year, having run the event three times already. He will be in charge of organizing the race day (24 or 42km), which is open to all.

Ung Chamroeun: Tell me more about you, particularly about your charity run experiences.

Veronique Messina: I am passionate about ultra-trails. I discovered this sport 11 years ago. Ultra-trail is a distance greater than the marathon distance, that is to say, greater than 42km. More commonly, these are distances greater than 50km, and I particularly like events from and above 100km. 

When you have to start drawing on your reserves, grit your teeth and move forward no matter what. This has allowed me to gain self-confidence and know myself better. And, of course, to travel. I love discovering the world with running shoes on my feet. I have been able to run in such different environments and each time, I have learned something new. 

Running in the desert (the Gobi Desert, the Sahara, Peru), in the cold (in the Alps or in the Himalayas, in Siberia), in the jungle (Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Sao Tome, Taiwan, China), in the mountains (the French Alps, in Spain), on a frozen lake (Lake Baikal in Russia), at altitude (in June 2024, I ran five marathons in five days at 5000m altitude). 

And I still have so many other ideas. I like to set myself a challenge, mentally and physically prepare myself, and then go for it. You never lose: either you win, or you learn."

She has had the opportunity to run in the most varied environments:  deserts (Sahara in Morocco, Gobi in China, Ica in Peru, Gujarat in India), mountains (Bhutan, Nepal, Transylvania in Romania, the Alps in France and Switzerland, Gaoligong in China, Taiwan), jungles and rainforests (Sri Lanka, Sao Tome), ice (crossing the frozen Baikal lake in Siberia), the countryside (Compostelle path in France, Rajahstan in India)  Just last month, she won the 30th International Himalayan Run and Trek, in Nepal, a race of 161 kilometres per stage in 23 hours and two minutes.