Imagine waking up in a van, lacing up your sneakers, and deciding that the only way forward is to keep running—for thousands of miles. That is exactly what 27-year-old Ria Xi is doing right now, and it is giving us major main character energy! 🌍
About two weeks ago, Ria started her journey in Vladivostok, and she hasn't stopped since. Her goal? To run the entire length of the ancient Silk Road, finishing her epic trek in Lisbon, Portugal. We are talking about a staggering 20,000 kilometers on foot!
The grind is real. Every single day, Ria covers approximately 50 kilometers. Her "home" is an RV that her crew parks wherever they can find a spot—sometimes it is a peaceful patch of nature, and other times it is just a random urban side street. After a day of pushing her limits, she limps back into the van, eats, sleeps, and does it all over again the next morning. 🚐💤
This isn't just a workout; it is a historic mission. By the time she hits Lisbon, Ria will have crossed 17 different countries over the course of 14 months. Here is the craziest part: she is the first person to ever attempt this specific feat.
When asked about the sheer scale of the challenge, Ria’s mindset is pure inspiration: "Only delusional until it's not," she says. 💬
Whether she is navigating remote landscapes or enduring the physical toll of ultra-running, Ria is proving that "impossible" is just a word. We are definitely keeping our eyes on her progress as she bridges continents one step at a time! 👣✨
Reference(s):
Running across continents: Ria Xi, the Silk Road and a 20,000 km dream
cgtn.com
