It may be not the easiest half-marathon to get to, but it certainly ranks as one of the friendliest. Although it's hard to get excited about racing in Western Siberia in January (temperature approx. -25°C -27°C /-13°F -16°F) the event snaps any runner out of the winter doldrums. The race attracts more than 250 runners from Omsk and other neighboring cities. The half-marathon is a way to open the City to the world. Once the home of Gengis Khan and the exiled Dostoevsky, Omsk displays its Lenine statues, lovely pre-Revolutionary buildings and Parks.

The route is flat and fast, and local residents cheer the entire way. You don't need to bring your own fan club. If you happen to be one of the few international travelers, like Jay Tuck - the first American guy to ever attend the race - you'll feel like a celebrity, the local runners and journalists will want to engage you in conversation. The course is challenging, it's a foray into the unknown and an exciting test of stamina. Despite ice-cold-weather-conditions, top-finisher Valerij Zakharov breaks the tape in 1:14 + a handfull of seconds, the first woman, Viktoria Silonina, is clocked in 1:28:38, a great achievement. Jay Tuck crosses the finishing line in 1:50 something, you can watch some photographs if you look at his webpages. The experience is incredible and the award ceremony is a blast that last for hours.

I don't know a better way to celebrate Russian Orthodox Christmas than running a half-marathon in a snow covered Siberia. The upcoming race is scheduled for January 6, 2001. If you are ready to take on the challenge, all you have to do is to get in touch with Roman V. Romanenko [email: sim@omsknet.ru] You will be in for a treat!

(special thanks to Jean-Louis Laurent (see Links page) for the story about Christmas Haf-marathon)