The BPR Petri Dish
- Runner: Simon Isaacs
- Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Currently Resides: Kigali, Rwanda
- Language(s): English, French, Spanish & Italian (fluent), Portuguese & Norwegian (basic)
- Family:
- Statement: “At a personal level, Blue Planet Run provides a rare opportunity to integrate my love for running with my commitment to improve the lives of the poor, disenfranchised and marginalized around the world.” – Simon Isaacs, 2007
I feel like I’ve been running on a treadmill through Western Siberia. My heart pumps, my legs move – but the horizon, though beautiful, goes unchanged. The road ahead is straight and flat as far as the eye can see. The only indications of progress are the signposts marking the distance to or from the next big town. With little change in the landscape, no major public or media appearances and few historic sites to explore, the team is left with little distraction other than itself.
The monotony of life on the road is catalyzing some very interpersonal chemistry. In the Blue Planet Run Petri dish – where we’ve mixed runners from every age, creed, culture and ability, the complete basket of human interaction and emotion has emerged: friendship, conflict, jealousy, indifference, admiration and love. This is not to say the Runners are dysfunctional ala Jerry Springer or scandalous ala The Real World, but rather, completely normal. In the words of William Blake, watching things unfold during the Run is “to see the world in a grain of sand.”
The atmosphere in Team Orange is all about sharing, friendship and bonding (sorry, no scandal to report... but I will see what I can do). Sunila and I spend our time dissecting and comparing our respective cultures and customs. Each day he seems to turn my preconceptions about India and Indian life on their heads.
Sean, Brynn and I chat a lot about business school, ways to improve the nonprofits, and bat around get rich quick ideas… although, I don’t think I have sold either of them on my plans designer drier sheets... (Who wouldn’t buy Hugo Boss scented Bounce… brilliant!) They have also taught me a great deal about love, marriage and relationships – while never making me feel like the third wheel. They rock.
As a team, we are very social. We spend our time in the van playing cards and scrabble, chatting about this and that and cheering one another in on the run. Though it is hard to say what’s led to our team’s sense of cohesion – it has been a true blessing as we cross this seemingly endless territory.
From Kemerovo, Russia – happy trails.
Hurricane Dean
Yesterday morning, I woke up to CNN’s talking heads warning of Hurricane Dean’s destructive path toward the Caribbean.
Activism + Water
By the late 80’s, AIDS had developed into a full fledged crisis. Despite the rapid spread of the disease, government officials remained quiet.
Venture Philanthropy
At the eclectic Buck’s diner in Woodside, Bay area power-brokers meet over stacks of pancakes to discuss what they hope will be the next big idea.
Make It Happen
We made it across Europe, Russia, and Asia… over 10,000 miles, one stride at a time; a truly significant accomplishment, no doubt.
Water and Climate Change in Mongolia
Fueled by the dramatic landscape before me, I have found my second wind in Mongolia.
Water & Tourism – The Great Baikal Trail
The internet café in Irkutsk was jammed with backpackers gripping their Lonely Planet Guidebooks and emailing home stories adventures through Russia.
Siberia’s Ghost Towns
“In Russia we have two problems, fools and bad roads” said my guide, Yuiana as the car swerved right and left through a mine-field of deep potholes.
(Hyrdo)Power to the People
Depicted on the back of my 10 ruble bill is the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Dam which lies upstream of the central Russian city of Krasnoyarsk (where I am now).
Ode to Mayonnaise
Waking up in the morning, I find you there at the breakfast table, A
dollop atop by canned peas and corn.
At lunch, you glisten off of my plate of meat dumplings. You line my
The BPR Petri Dish
I feel like I’ve been running on a treadmill through Western Siberia. My heart pumps, my legs move – but the horizon, though beautiful, goes unchanged.