It’s 5:30 am, December 7th, and as the starter pistol goes off, 4,000 runners jump off the start line and begin their Half Marathon Race. Soon after, the 10km runners are called to begin, and off go another 8,000 people.
2025 was Angkor Wat’s International Half Marathon 30th anniversary and the third consecutive year Team SBB has gathered to run it together. The race is held annually in the heart of Siem Reap, where runners follow the scenic loop around Angkor Wat’s neighboring temples and beneath ancient gates, taking on either five, ten, or 21 kilometers. The beauty of the run, in addition to the gentle glow the rising sun casts on the elaborate stone carvings, is how it brings people together. People from around the globe travel to join, and not only professional runners, its participants also include parents and children, friends and coworkers, athletes and amateurs. Our partners, like BeLikeKhmer, also had staff running, as well as the entire Novogratz Bridge Year cohort whose students intern with SBB each year.
There’s a thrilling joy that comes from shuffling through people, seeing a flash of a recognisable face, and unexpectedly bumping into friends through a crowd of more than 10,000 people. As you run, you can watch in admiration as the fastest marathoner stride down the road, already on his way back, as you’ve only just arrived at kilometer three, or you can slow down and chat with the strangers beside you. It’s an independent challenge just as much as it is a group effort.
The Angkor Wat International Marathon isn’t just a race for SBB, it’s a team and community building exercise. While GoogleMeet enables us to collaborate despite the distance between our offices, some spread throughout northern Cambodia and others internationally, there’s no opportunity like this marathon to allow us to build and strengthen our team cohesion. By running the marathon we show up for one another, supporting our team inside and outside of the office. The strides we take as we run represent our dedication to the work we do and our drive to bring change to the Cambodian education system. We were also fortunate to have board members from SBB UK travel to Cambodia to run the race with us, creating an opportunity for us to connect with our team outside of the country.
This event, as well as the month of December in general, is a major time for SBB to conduct fundraising. Our team was able to raise $3,322 through the run, all profits going directly towards supporting teachers and primary school students’ education. With this money SBB can conduct further research and invest in gathering resources and new technology for the communities we work with. Knowing the amount of global support on our shoulders as we run is also a key motivator, pushing us through the race.
“I am very happy to have participated in the Angkor Half Marathon with the SBB team to raise funds to support education in Cambodia.”
After the race, the SBB team gathered for a group brunch. We rested and talked, joyful to have finished running– but even more to be in each other’s company. Moments like these bring the team closer together, and the more we get to know each other as people, the better we work together.
To build a steady structure, you need a strong base. At SBB, we recognise the importance of having a connected and united team in order to produce meaningful and valuable work. The Angkor International Half Marathon is only one of the many examples of how our team comes together to encourage each other, push one another to our best, and build our team cohesion through smiles and support.
