Russian Indiannists

This is a sequel to "reflections" on my touring Russia as a runner for the "Sacred Run - LONDON to MOSCOW" in 1990.
Sacred Run Eurasia 1991 and Run to Tibet 1992: for Land and Life and attempts to continue Sacred Run Eurasia began as spinoff running teams from "Sacred Run 1990". Organized by Europeans in association with American Indian Movement leader Dennis Banks and Native American and Japanese running teams.
The Eurasia running team picked up where "Sacred Run 1990" ended its tour in Moscow, Russia. From here the Eurasia Sacred Run 1990 and Run to Tibet 1992: for Land and Life reached Penza, Russia, and continued until Tashanta where the Russian border reaches Mongolia.
Tashanta is a desolate Russian outpost which controls border crossings into and out of Mongolia from the northwest Altai mountain range. It seems to me a place for someone who was insubordinate to his military superiors and found himself stuck in a godforsaken hellhole. It is a thieves crossing for sure. OR it is the perfect isolation a writer might require to write a masterpiece on "WHY THE HELL DOES THE WORLD NEED BORDERS?"
The following photos are a photo-journal of the many "ceremonies" our Sacred Run Eurasia team had to go through on a daily grind. This was not a romantic tour of Russia and Kasakhstan until Tashanta. There were many hardships...

Hardships on a Sacred Run can be measured in the everyday activities we take for granted. A warm bed, a hot shower, good meals, a quiet moment alone and something as simple as listening to a song on your favorite music system.
In reality: these are comforts given up to do something which a person thought they could NOT do!
It is not the purpose of the Sacred Run to torture yourself or give up being who you are. NO! The overall purpose is to do something you thought impossible. While giving thanks to Mother Earth everyday for enduring hardships from pushing your body by running to your extreme limits. It is a spiritual as well as a physical endeavour.
It is the spirit of sport without having to be the greatest sportsman or sportswoman. The purpose of the Sacred Run is to test yourself to be greater than you think you can be.

Tashanta: border between Russia and Mongolia

It was the beginning of the "Run to Tibet" which waits to be continued...

Along with these tours, there was art and shamanism waiting to be discovered. This is a story for another day.

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