At the end of September 2016, the registration for next-year’s ultramarathon had already opened. There were two options: 38 kilometers and 164 kilometers (100 miles). In order to participate in the 100-mile race, one had to qualify for entry within a year. I didn’t have time to do it because I had never participated in such long distances, so I chose 38 km and applied for the race.

My training was diverse and intense all autumn and winter 2016 and spring 2017. I was preparing my body for extreme loads. Running under any weather conditions and at any time was toughening me and defining my spirit.

However, it was destined for me to skip the marathon in spring 2017. Fate, pure chance, or turn of events – whatever you call it – stood in my way of sport.

I had to have plenty of patience to wait for the next year and the next race.

In autumn 2017 the registration for the 2018 marathon was opened. This time Elton provided 3 distances to choose between: 42 kilometers, 82 kilometers and 100 miles (164 kilometers).

I concentrated on my training eagerly, with an even greater passion. The registration for this run closed two weeks before the event. In 2016 I managed to sign up in advance. This time I could only count on being lucky…

I put my name on the waiting list in case someone pulled out of the 82-kilometer night race to reregister the slot in my name.

I felt a long and irresistible desire to complete this distance at that place. In December 2017 I decided to run 82 kilometers around the lake by myself. I bought the train tickets to Elton. I was sure I was able to run 82 km on my own, without anyone’s assistance.

My backpack was ready. I was waiting for my train, walking around Saratov. I went to the cinema and watched a film. I bought some puer tea from a pretty shop girl, for the journey. After the film I walked to the train station which was only three blocks away. Listening to the chugging sound of the train, I started another journey ahead to new adventures.

When I was on the train I called a few locals I new at Elton. They told me I could rent a room from them.

The train arrived at 1 a.m. Nevertheless, he met me at the station and took me home. When we entered, he introduced me to his wife and we had tea together.

I woke up early in the morning. I only slept for four hours but I felt fresh and full of energy. I packed a light backpack: 1.5 liters of water, dried fruit, energy bars, and nothing else apart from the monumental desire to achieve the goal.

I started on a trip. In December the steppe was already covered by a thin layer of snow. The roads were smoothed by cars. Some animals were examining the ground, searching for something to eat. There were still some red direction indicators along the roadside from the spring run I had missed. I was wandering around, getting lost several times because the road was crossed by dry creeks and other hollows in multiple places and some of them were flooded. Late in the evening I finally reached the familiar landmark called “Chertova balka” (the “Hell Hollow”). This biological and erosive formation was home to many various plants. There was a small creek at the bottom of the hollow. As I found out later, the place was also known as a wolf country.

The sun went down below the horizon, and the menacing dark clouds obscured the sky. They were hanging down low as if they were threatening to devour the planet. It got dark very quickly. I turned on my head torch. The narrow stripe of light was illuminating the mud ruts left by trucks, slightly covered by the snow…

It was now about 30 kilometers to the village. Suddenly my host called me and said he should have warned me about wolves in the area. He told me to be careful.

What a timely warning that was! There was not a soul for dozens of kilometers around me. 30 kilometers is not a huge distance. I would cover it in 3 or, maximum, 4 hours. Something made me look back. I turned around and saw two unwinking eyes 30–50 meters behind. They were reflecting the light from my head torch, which made them look mysterious and baleful.

“Must be a fox or a hare”, I thought and continued running. After 3 more kilometers I looked back again. The same unwinking eyes were still staring at me, gleaming with phosphorus.

I decided to scare the curious animal away and clapped my hands but it didn’t even move. “It’s not scared at all! So weird! Foxes normally try to get as far from humans as they can. People don’t even have a chance to come close to them. This animal is chasing me but keeping at distance… and not even trying to hide?!”

I started to see more and more animal footprints on the snow. They were very specific: this animal was stepping on its paw pads and its claws were pressing into the snow heavily. They were footprints of a wolf chasing its prey. Maybe, there were many wolves. I felt the rush of adrenaline in my blood. My instincts sharpened. I felt calm and composed. “No, big bad wolf, I’m not easy game!”