We slugged out of the hotel at 2am, loaded the van, and hit the road. Not 2km down the street, we were stopped at a random police check point for the fourth time since entering the Kemerovo city environs. Yet again, another check point for the police to verify insurance, registration, and first aid equipment (which must be kept in the car). “Again? Do they know who we are?” someone joked. We peered from the windows with intrigue as our driver Alexander crossed the street and climbed into the back of a police car. At this hour, things do not always make sense especially when they transpire in Russian. Luckily, they did not take Alexander away as we had feared, and 10 minutes later, we found ourselves cruising through the empty city streets behind the flashing lights of a police escort. Through red lights and intersections, our escort took us 15 miles outside the city where we came upon the BPR night pilot crew. But for some reason, as I hopped out of the van in my reflective night running gear, the usual police officer had multiplied to 7 or 8, with the addition of not one but for some reason 4 police cars. It appeared that most of the Kemerovo police department had gathered here at kilometer marker #34, although I didn’t have time to figure out why as the clock struck and it was time to run. I’m not sure how safe it was back in the city, but at 3am on the roadside of the M-53, it was very safe. Into the pre dawn mist I began my 10 mile stretch, with red and blue flashing lights of the escort cars both in front and behind. At mile 6, the thumping beat of a discotech energized my stride, and thoughts of Club Ixcel in Omsk flashed through my mind--where we had experienced the lure of Russian Saturday night amongst the hip 16-20 year old crowd (see Paul’s latest Blog for details). Crossing yet another police check point, my run finished up on the side of the road next to a sign indicating our destination—“Irkutsk 1594 km.” Only four days away! But here in Siberia, where the roads are straight and the country is flat, open and sparsely populated, 700 miles is a mere skip down the street. Undoubtedly, we'll be seeing a lot more of the Russian police.

Onward we go…