“I fell in love with running and felt the zen of it.
Joining The Kenya Experience was the BEST. DECISION. EVER.”
Runner Profile
- Name: Eustacia Jieyi Tan
- Age: 23
- Occupation: Flight Attendant
- Home Base: Singapore & Dubai
- Camp Attended: December 2018 Kenya Experience Original Camp
- Personal Bests: 5k – 25:41 | 10k – 58:05
- Marathon Goal: Sub 4:00:00
Finding Fitness in Dubai
My name is Eustacia Tan. I was raised on a small island in Indonesia and spent my teenage years in Singapore. Over three years ago, I moved to Dubai to work as an airline flight attendant.
Dubai has a brilliant fitness scene, but initially, I had very little interest in it. My job was hectic, and on my days off, all I wanted to do was rest or catch up with friends. After a year in Dubai, I gained weight, felt unhappy, and realised I needed something to keep my mind occupied.
In late 2017, a close friend encouraged me to start working out. I felt an instant boost after every session, so I kept going. Eventually, my airline partnered with a large local gym, which is where my fitness journey truly kicked off—though not with running just yet! Truthfully, I used to hate cardio and only ran for 10 minutes as a warm-up before strength workouts.
Falling in Love with Running
After a few months, I felt my progress stalling and hired a personal trainer. That was how running was properly introduced to me.
We started with a 1-mile run before workouts, progressing to 5k. One day, my coach asked if I wanted to try a 10k. I was intimidated, but I went for it, and that was it. I fell in love. I felt the true zen of running.
“I got demotivated many times because getting faster or running longer isn’t easy. But I just kept coming back!”
I began signing up for races. My first-ever 5k was a cross-country race. People told me not to aim for a PB and just enjoy it, but I ended up finishing 3rd! Shortly after, I entered a 10k on an impulse without expecting much, and ended up setting a brand-new PB.
The Kenya Experience: “Best Decision Ever”
Looking for ways to improve further, I stumbled upon The Kenya Experience on Facebook. I’ve always loved Africa, and the idea of running alongside some of the world’s fastest athletes sounded like the perfect holiday.
As soon as my leave was approved, I registered within the hour. It was a completely different type of holiday compared to what I was used to, and easily one of the best trips of my life.
- The Community: You meet passionate people, share stories, and build lasting connections.
- The Coaching: The expert coaches helped me set a much more realistic, structured training goal.
- The Inspiration: Running on the iconic dirt trails and hills of Iten surrounded by local elites meant I definitely came home a stronger runner.
“I couldn’t stop talking about the camp when I got back and definitely had camp withdrawals! Truly life-changing.”
Inspired by Eustacia’s Story?
Around 90% of our guests arrive solo, and runners of all paces find their fit on the red dirt trails of Iten.
