In continuation of my acquaintance with Ukrainian 10-kilometre races I decided to take part in another race, which took place on the territory of a museum, but not an ordinary one, like Pirogovo. I think you have already guessed that this is a museum of Ukrainian corruption, located in the former residence of the notorious fugitive president Yanukovych in the village of Novi Petrivtsi. Leaving aside the history of this place, the "Escape from Mezhyhirya" race takes place in a very picturesque area. Here you can simultaneously admire the beauty of the surrounding nature and feel irritated by the scale of corruption, which is reflected in the decoration of the residence itself.
Museum of Corruption in Ukraine
"Mezhyhiria" is the former private residence of the fourth fugitive president of Ukraine in the village of Novi Petrivtsi, Vyshhorod district, Kyiv region, which he occupied from 2002 to 2014. From 1935 to 2007, Mezhyhirya was a state government residence until it was privatised. The 140-hectare "Mezhyhirya" complex is enclosed by a five-metre high fence with a perimeter length of 54 kilometres. It has a yacht marina, an equestrian club, a shooting range, a tennis court and other entertainment and tourist facilities, as well as hunting grounds. Journalists and politicians call "Mezhyhirya" a symbol of presidential corruption and a "museum of corruption". On the morning of 22 February 2014, the Mezhyhirya residence was opened to the press as the fugitive president left Kyiv and the country and fled to Muscovy with his loot.
Registration
Register at "Escape from Mezhyhirya" race is available online at athletic-events.com, where participants have the opportunity to choose one of two distances: 10 or 5 kilometres. Upon arrival at the venue, each athlete receives their own starter pack. The distribution usually takes place on the eve of the competition at the entrance to the museum.
Route
The race route for the main course of 10 kilometres consists of two laps of 5 kilometres each.
The track surface is asphalt and mostly flat with a slight downhill at the beginning and an equally slight uphill at the end of each lap.
Run
This time I didn't have to travel far, because the race took place not far from Kyiv, namely in the village of Novi Petrivtsi, where the Museum of Ukrainian Corruption. To make it easier for the participants to get to the starting town of the "Escape from Mezhyhirya" race, the organisers arranged a shuttle service from the Minsk metro station to the residence and back.
On the day of the race, when I got to the starting town, which greeted the participants with fog, and picked up my starter pack, I decided to take a short walk around the museum and at the same time pass the time left before the start. What can I say? If I had found myself in a palace of the XV-XIX centuries, I would probably have been delighted with the decoration. But I found myself in a complex built in the 21st century! Walking around it, I could not understand why the fence was decorated with gold.
I felt similar irritation at the beginning of the year during the second trips to Cairo. I decided to stay there not in a hostel (I got acquainted with hostels on my first trip), but in a five-star hotel. And looking out onto the waterfront and looking at the other side of the Nile, I realised that the most interesting thing was in the local slums, where there was freedom, not in an elegantly designed hotel complex with armed guards.
But there were also pleasant moments in this walk, namely the local nature and fauna, which brought only positive impressions. I admired the local swans, ducks and other wildlife that remained after Yanukovych fled to Muscovy.
However, the most interesting part began on Sunday at 12 o'clock and 15 minutes, when the Escape from Mezhyhirya race started, and at the same time my next running adventure. This time, they consisted of two laps of 5 kilometres each and took place along the asphalt embankment and the museum grounds.
Since before the race, "Escape from Mezhyhirya" took part in the marathon in Larnaca and therefore had not yet fully recovered, I felt tired. So, when I was going to the race, I planned to take my time and just stretch my legs. But that's what I thought until I got to the start of the next race.
It started quite lively, although I was still feeling tired in the first kilometres. The first lap went by quite quickly and we managed to complete it in 25 minutes. As for the second lap, sometimes I had to wanted to run slower, but the support from volunteers and fans did their job, so 49 minutes after the start I managed to cross the finish line, where a delicious porridge was waiting for the participants.
Impression
Race "Escape from Mezhyhirya" left me with only positive emotions, primarily from the excellent organisation and interesting route of the race. Therefore, I covered the distance quite easily.
