{"id":14128,"date":"2016-10-30T23:07:00","date_gmt":"2016-10-30T23:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mircorp.com\/?p=14128"},"modified":"2024-01-23T22:10:56","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T22:10:56","slug":"running-across-russia-a-5500-mile-relay-for-clean-drinking-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/running-across-russia-a-5500-mile-relay-for-clean-drinking-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Running Across Russia: A 5,500-mile Relay for Clean Drinking Water"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-layout \n  container\n XD-mt--sm XD-mb--sm\n undefined\n XD-h-100--sm XD-h-100--md XD-h-100--lg XD-h-100--xl\" style=\"background-size:cover;background-color:\" uk-scrollspy=\"\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\" col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-6 col-xl-6 offset-sm-0 offset-md-2 offset-lg-3 offset-xl-3\">\n<p>MIR is well known for creating&nbsp;imaginative&nbsp;overland expeditions&nbsp;by&nbsp;car, motorcycle, and 4x4s.&nbsp;<strong>Yet one of the most memorable and complex expeditions our team ever undertook was&nbsp;on foot,&nbsp;working with 79 participants on&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/blueplanetrun.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cBlue Planet Run.\u201d<\/a> <\/strong>The participants included trainers, our support staff team, and the runners who ran all the way across <a href=\"\/region\/russia\/\">Russia<\/a> and beyond for 5,500 miles \u2013 a journey of&nbsp;inspiration, dedication and generosity.&nbsp;In all, the runners covered&nbsp;an incredible 15,200 miles over 16 countries in 95 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"MIR&#039;s 30 Years: Running Through Russia &amp; Beyond\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_Ja_3B1gtUk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-layout \n  container\n XD-mt--sm XD-mb--sm\n undefined\n XD-h-100--sm XD-h-100--md XD-h-100--lg XD-h-100--xl\" style=\"background-size:cover;background-color:\" uk-scrollspy=\"\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\" col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-6 col-xl-6 offset-sm-0 offset-md-2 offset-lg-3 offset-xl-3\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Relay for a Cause<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In 2007, the Blue Planet Run was organized as a round-the-world relay with&nbsp;top-notch runners from 13 countries, promoting awareness and raising money for&nbsp;safe drinking water.<\/strong>&nbsp;Clean water is not only a global political issue, but a&nbsp;top global health issue&nbsp;as well, with 2&nbsp;billion people worldwide lacking access to clean, safe drinking water according to the World Health Organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"618\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u0410\u0432\u0442\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435-\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0430-\u0412\u043b\u0430\u0434-\u0423\u0448\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0432-photo.kg-36-water-Vlad-Ushakov-618.jpg\" alt=\"Often taken for granted, safe drinking water is a global health concern. Photo credit: Vlad Ushakov\" class=\"wp-image-14127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u0410\u0432\u0442\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435-\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0430-\u0412\u043b\u0430\u0434-\u0423\u0448\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0432-photo.kg-36-water-Vlad-Ushakov-618.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u0410\u0432\u0442\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435-\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0430-\u0412\u043b\u0430\u0434-\u0423\u0448\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0432-photo.kg-36-water-Vlad-Ushakov-618-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u0410\u0432\u0442\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435-\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0430-\u0412\u043b\u0430\u0434-\u0423\u0448\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0432-photo.kg-36-water-Vlad-Ushakov-618-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/\u0410\u0432\u0442\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0435-\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0430-\u0412\u043b\u0430\u0434-\u0423\u0448\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0432-photo.kg-36-water-Vlad-Ushakov-618-600x388.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\" \/><figcaption>Often taken for granted, safe drinking water is a global health concern. Photo credit: Vlad Ushakov<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Our MIR team was <strong>not only challenged by the complex layers of logistics, but also inspired by these dedicated teams<\/strong>&nbsp;running across Russia and beyond, promoting their global cause for&nbsp;cleaner, safer water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Logistical Hoops<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We handled the logistics for&nbsp;teams of four runners each and their support staff&nbsp;starting at the Polish\/Belarus border and stretching across&nbsp;<a href=\"\/country\/western-russia\/\">Western Russia<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"\/country\/siberia-and-the-russian-far-east\/\">Siberia<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/country\/mongolia\/\">Mongolia<\/a>&nbsp;to eastern&nbsp;<a href=\"\/country\/china\/\">China<\/a>. We started planning MIR\u2019s portion of the&nbsp;run two years in advance in 2005,&nbsp;measuring the runners\u2019 route from the starting point near Brest,&nbsp;<a href=\"\/country\/belarus\/\">Belarus<\/a>&nbsp;to the finish line in the port city of Jiangyin, China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRRunner-Belarus-runner-on-road-DGrimes-800.jpg\" alt=\"A Blue Planet runner strides along a rural road in Belarus. Photo credit: Douglas Grimes\" class=\"wp-image-14123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRRunner-Belarus-runner-on-road-DGrimes-800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRRunner-Belarus-runner-on-road-DGrimes-800-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRRunner-Belarus-runner-on-road-DGrimes-800-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRRunner-Belarus-runner-on-road-DGrimes-800-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRRunner-Belarus-runner-on-road-DGrimes-800-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption>A Blue Planet runner strides along a rural road in Belarus. Photo credit: Douglas Grimes<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It wasn\u2019t easy, as we had to measure in one-runner increments, factoring 8-minute miles for each runner.&nbsp;We knew each participant would run for about 90 minutes at a time before passing the baton to the next runner, with each runner on each team&nbsp;on the road for a total of six hours a day.&nbsp;When one team finished, the next team was in place to take the baton, day or night, around the clock. <strong>One of the more significant challenges that we faced was to find sleeping accommodations <\/strong>for each team that were not only acceptable, but also close enough to their next starting point \u2013 not an easy task in a place like Siberia!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The planning for this was filled with&nbsp;the minute details&nbsp;of creating mini-itineraries for each of the teams \u2013\u2013 determining where they would stay, where they would eat, and what kinds of meals would be served. Of course, we knew&nbsp;the runners would need plenty of food, not to mention the support personnel&nbsp;for each team.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-standardcarousel js-xd-components__carousel\">\n  <div class=\"js-xd-components__carousel\">\n    <div uk-slider  >\n      <div class=\"uk-position-relative\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n        <ul\n          id=\"block_5eed44b507559-carousel\"\n          class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1 uk-child-width-1-2@s uk-child-width-1-3@m uk-grid uk-grid-small  js-xd-components__carousel-lightbox-open\">\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040549-BPRunners-DGrimes-SupportCrew-618-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040549-BPRunners-DGrimes-SupportCrew-618.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040549-BPRunners-DGrimes-SupportCrew-618-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040549-BPRunners-DGrimes-SupportCrew-618-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040549-BPRunners-DGrimes-SupportCrew-618-600x388.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Our MIR team worked with the support crew, ensuring runners had everything they needed. Photo credit: Douglas Grimes\"\n  height=\"400\"\n  width=\"618\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRStaffroadsign_DouglasGrimes-web-150x113.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRStaffroadsign_DouglasGrimes-web.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRStaffroadsign_DouglasGrimes-web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRStaffroadsign_DouglasGrimes-web-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRStaffroadsign_DouglasGrimes-web-600x450.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"MIR support staff during the Blue Planet Run event. Photo credit: Douglas Grimes\"\n  height=\"480\"\n  width=\"640\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n                      <li>\n                              <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040581-Belarus-BPRunners-618-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040581-Belarus-BPRunners-618.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040581-Belarus-BPRunners-618-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040581-Belarus-BPRunners-618-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040581-Belarus-BPRunners-618-600x388.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"On city pavement and country roads, the Blue Planet runners covered more than 15,000 miles. Photo credit: Douglas Grimes\"\n  height=\"400\"\n  width=\"618\"\n\/>                          <\/li>\n          \n        <\/ul>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"previous\"\n          ><\/a>\n        <a\n          class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover\"\n          href=\"#\"\n          uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\"\n          uk-slider-item=\"next\"\n        ><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav uk-flex-center uk-margin\" ><\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n      \n  <div id=\"block_5eed44b507559-lightbox\" class=\"uk-modal-container xd-components__media-grid-lightbox uk-modal\" uk-modal=\"uk-modal\">\n    <div class=\"uk-modal-dialog uk-modal-body\">\n      <button class=\"uk-modal-close-outside\" type=\"button\" uk-close=\"uk-close\"><\/button>\n      <div id=\"block_5eed44b507559-lightbox-slider\" uk-slider=\"uk-slider\">\n        <div class=\"uk-position-relative\">\n          <div class=\"uk-slider-container\">\n            <ul class=\"uk-slider-items uk-child-width-1-1\">\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040549-BPRunners-DGrimes-SupportCrew-618-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040549-BPRunners-DGrimes-SupportCrew-618.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040549-BPRunners-DGrimes-SupportCrew-618-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040549-BPRunners-DGrimes-SupportCrew-618-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040549-BPRunners-DGrimes-SupportCrew-618-600x388.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"Our MIR team worked with the support crew, ensuring runners had everything they needed. Photo credit: Douglas Grimes\"\n  height=\"400\"\n  width=\"618\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">Our MIR team worked with the support crew, ensuring runners had everything they needed.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Douglas Grimes<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRStaffroadsign_DouglasGrimes-web-150x113.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRStaffroadsign_DouglasGrimes-web.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRStaffroadsign_DouglasGrimes-web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRStaffroadsign_DouglasGrimes-web-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/BPRStaffroadsign_DouglasGrimes-web-600x450.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"MIR support staff during the Blue Planet Run event. Photo credit: Douglas Grimes\"\n  height=\"480\"\n  width=\"640\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">MIR support staff during the Blue Planet Run event.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Douglas Grimes<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mir\/build\/images\/png\/lazy-loading.png\"\n  data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040581-Belarus-BPRunners-618-150x97.jpg\"\n  data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040581-Belarus-BPRunners-618.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040581-Belarus-BPRunners-618-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040581-Belarus-BPRunners-618-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040581-Belarus-BPRunners-618-600x388.jpg 600w\"\n  sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\"\n  class=\"lazyload \"\n  alt=\"On city pavement and country roads, the Blue Planet runners covered more than 15,000 miles. Photo credit: Douglas Grimes\"\n  height=\"400\"\n  width=\"618\"\n\/>                    <span class=\"photo-caption\">On city pavement and country roads, the Blue Planet runners covered more than 15,000 miles.<\/span>\n                                                            <span class=\"photo-credit\"> Douglas Grimes<\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-left uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-previous uk-slidenav\" href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-previous=\"uk-slidenav-previous\" uk-slider-item=\"previous\"><\/a>\n          <a class=\"uk-position-center-right uk-position-small uk-hidden-hover uk-icon uk-slidenav-next uk-slidenav\"\n            href=\"#\" uk-slidenav-next=\"uk-slidenav-next\" uk-slider-item=\"next\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"uk-slider-nav uk-dotnav\">\n        <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"color:#909599\" class=\"has-text-color has-text-align-center\">(click image to view larger photo)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We arranged for 10 mini vans to travel along the route and shuttle runners each time they started or finished a leg of the journey, covering thousands of miles. Another task involved finding the&nbsp;precise locations of gas stations for those vehicles,&nbsp;obtaining the necessary driving permits, and preparing in advance for emergency vehicle repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finish Line<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It was a dynamic, epic journey&nbsp;for the dedicated international team of Blue Planet Runners, and for all of us at MIR as well.<\/strong> Despite the numerous&nbsp;complexities and logistical challenges of&nbsp;this multi-country overland expedition on foot, we were honored and humbled to contribute our efforts to the cause of raising global awareness of the importance of access to clean drinking water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"618\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040570-BPRunners-MIRCrew-2007-618.jpg\" alt=\"Our 2007 MIR crew truly ran the distance to make the Blue Planet Run a success (BTW, the sign says \u2018MIR.\u2019) Photo credit: Douglas Grimes\" class=\"wp-image-14125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040570-BPRunners-MIRCrew-2007-618.jpg 618w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040570-BPRunners-MIRCrew-2007-618-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040570-BPRunners-MIRCrew-2007-618-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/P1040570-BPRunners-MIRCrew-2007-618-600x388.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\" \/><figcaption>Our 2007 MIR crew truly ran the distance to make the Blue Planet Run a success (BTW, the sign says \u2018MIR\u2019). Photo credit: Douglas Grimes<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignwide has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-image:url(http:\/\/mircorp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/27-Michel-Behar.jpg);min-height:250px\"><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><strong>More on &#8220;MIR&#8217;s 30+ Years&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-xd-layout \n  container\n XD-mt--sm XD-mb--sm\n undefined\n XD-h-100--sm XD-h-100--md XD-h-100--lg XD-h-100--xl\" style=\"background-size:cover;background-color:\" uk-scrollspy=\"\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\" col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-6 col-xl-6 offset-sm-0 offset-md-2 offset-lg-3 offset-xl-3\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Want to find out more about MIR\u2019s beginnings and hear some unparalleled travel stories?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Learn more about&nbsp;\u201cMIR\u2019s 30+ Years\u201d&nbsp;of travel experiences and adventures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"\/tag\/mir-history\/\">MIR\u2019s 30+ Years<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Contact us today to chat about your travel dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"\/contact\/\">contact us<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MIR is well known for creating imaginative overland expeditions by car, motorcycle, and 4x4s. Yet one of the most memorable and complex expeditions our team ever undertook was on foot, working with 79 participants on \u201cBlue Planet Run.\u201d The participants included trainers, our support staff team, and the runners who ran all the way across Russia and beyond for 5,500 miles \u2013 a journey of inspiration, dedication and generosity. In all, the runners covered an incredible 15,200 miles over 16 countries in 95 days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14129,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[769,770,479,101,403,215,760,761,707,607,771,462,772,28,59,773],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Running Across Russia: A 5,500-mile Relay for Clean Drinking Water<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One of the most memorable and complex expeditions our team ever undertook was on foot, working with 79 participants on \u201cBlue Planet Run.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Running 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