22/10/2026
Ria Xi is running 20,000 km across Eurasia, from Vladivostok, Russia, to Lisbon, Portugal. Today marks day 174 of her expedition, with 7,707 km covered. Along the way, she set the supported women’s FKT for crossing China in 113 days, 8 hours and 58 minutes.
A few years ago, a quarter-life crisis left Ria feeling lost. Running became an outlet, and discovering what her body was capable of drew her into ultrarunning. “Ultrarunning gives you a sense of control over your own life.”
The 20,000 km Experiment is a chance to rewrite her story. After a year of preparation, she finally set off in May 2026. Having once struggled to turn ideas into action, simply getting this project off the ground was a victory in itself. “Whatever comes next, I know I’ll keep running, because running has changed my mindset so much.”
The project is also driven by Ria’s hope that running, a sport almost anyone can take part in, can connect people across borders in a world where so many voices go unheard. Along her route through 17 countries, local running groups have joined her for parts of the way. Hearing from people who have been inspired by her efforts reminds Ria why the project matters.
Mount to Coast is supporting Ria and her team with running shoes for the expedition. We look forward to seeing her through to the end.
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