Day 29 - Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

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June 29        Photos by Chris Emerick

Hello from Nizhny Novgorod, an oasis off MR7 and home to more than 1.3 million people!

Taeko gears up for her 10 mile run in the dark outside of Ninzy Novogorod, Russia

Yesterday Teams Green and Orange were in Vladimir, where Dot Helling remarked that Russia had come a long way in the food department since her previous visits. Laura Furtado and Dot took Sunil Jayaraj shopping in the local mall during a rainstorm, where he purchased a lovely top for his new wife and a fast-drying pair of blue shorts for himself. The shop personnel were very attentive, more out of service than curiosity. Because of their matching running gear and diversity of age, ethnicity and gender, the Blue Planet Runners have caused quite a stir in Russia!

The runners who took the night shift last night faced a variety of conditions, from sketchy highway shoulders to dog attacks. Now that the route is outside Moscow, there is no more police escort, making it slightly more difficult to navigate the roads. But it would take more than a lack of police escort and unreliable GPS to deter the Blue Planet Run! Maps and odometers, as well as photos of the exchange points, are becoming useful tools in navigating the unfamiliar terrain.

A definite highlight in Nizhny Novgorod was asking local Russians for directions, including three giddy young women in a local mall’s beauty shop. Dot, Laura and Sunil drew pictures and used hand signals, and then handed out BPR stickers. They also encountered a little girl at the salon who wanted more stickers for her friends. Then, lo and behold, Dot met a man from Connecticut at a local bar who spoke Russian and was interested in BPR, having noticed the shirts around the hotel.

Will passes above a basillica in Ninzy Novogorod

Several runners will be rotated within the next few days, with Team Green seeing the most change — Mary Chervenak, formerly of Team Silver, and Lansing Brewer, formerly of Team Orange, will move to Team Green, while Simon Isaacs and Dot Helling, both formerly of Team Green, will move to Team Orange and Team Silver, respectively. Team Yellow remains as before, and alternate Will Dobbie will be running with Team Blue.

The night pilot with GPS at the ready

Will and Mellisa take a crowded bus into the city of Ninzy Novogorod, Russia

David running along a hot and dusty, heavily traveled highway in Russia