Sovena Ngeth: Overcoming Generational Trauma One Step at a Time
For Sovena Ngeth, running isn’t just about logging miles and getting to the finish line, it’s about showing her family what she is capable of to help them unlock their own potential. Her mother and grandmother immigrated to the United States in 1994 after trying to rebuild their life in Cambodia, having endured the genocide under the Khmer Rouge from 1975-1979.
“They came here to give their future family—my sisters and I—a fighting chance at survival, stability, and success. They've managed to overcome extremely difficult situations, but still deal with PTSD and the trauma of what they've had to overcome,” Sovena said.
She said they raised her to be overly cautious about doing anything that might hurt or injure her, such as running long distances.
“I'm running the TCS New York City Marathon to prove to them that I can, and that it is okay. I want to show my mom and grandma that the human body is resilient,” she said.
Sovena, 27, lives in Union City, New Jersey and the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon is her first marathon. She’ll be fundraising for Apex for Youth, an organization with a mission to empower underserved Asian and immigrant youth from low-income families in NYC to help them unlock their potential and discover a world of possibility.
“I am so proud to be a mentor at Apex for Youth and wanted to do more to contribute to this organization, so fundraising and running for Apex was the perfect opportunity to combine both of my passions,” she said.
In January 2023, she joined the Apex for Youth’s National Virtual Mentoring Program and became a mentor. The free program provides high school students from low-income Asian backgrounds across the United States with a 1-1 mentor for at least two years, with monthly virtual workshops to build a sense of community and belonging.
“As someone who comes from a low-income Asian background, I was eager to give back to students with the knowledge and guidance I wish I had when I was younger,” she said.
Later that year, she was inspired to take up running when she watched her boyfriend and their mutual friends finish their first half marathon. Even though the thought of running 13.1 miles was daunting to her at the time, she wondered if she could accomplish that herself. She bought a pair of running shoes and eventually trained to run her first 5K race.
“I signed up for NYRR races and enjoyed being immersed in the NYC running community — waking up at 6 a.m. to catch the train to Central Park and seeing other runners with their bibs doing the same exact thing I was, gave me a sense of belonging to a something larger than myself,” she said.
As Sovena trains and sets her sights on toeing the line on November 3, she said she’s working on overcoming the insecurities and imposter syndrome of being a new runner.
“To be running one of the biggest marathons in the world, is absolutely mind-boggling to me and I think it brings a lot of doubt sometimes. I mean, my whole life, I've always been scared of going outside of my comfort zone.”
Running has influenced Sovena’s life in many ways, not only for her but also for her family. Her father started running after seeing her passion for the sport and now it’s a way for them to bond. She hopes to sign up her whole family to run an NYRR race together.
“I am proud to be a Cambodian American and a child of immigrants, the child of a family who went through a genocide and came out stronger.”
Sovena is part of #TeamInspire, a diverse group of 26 entrants whose stories capture the power of running to change lives. Read other #TeamInspire stories at the links below.
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