‘Running Lifts Your Spirits, Improves Health, and Motivates’

Last Friday, an HSE Running Club meeting took place at the library on Pokrovsky Bulvar, organised by the HSE Human Resources Development Office. Participants shared their personal running experiences, discussed upcoming races for the new season, and explored ways to develop sports activities for HSE staff.

‘For us, this event is a continuation of what we do within our office. We aim to bring people together in various ways,’ said Igor Zagretsky, Head of the HSE Human Resources Development Office.

During the meeting, attendees shared their achievements and athletic goals. Olga Voron, Adviser at the Institute for Social Policy and Deputy Director of the world-class Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre, runs exclusively on the tennis court. ‘The physical effort there is comparable to running a marathon. I have been running on the court almost my whole life since the age of 14, and recently I have also taken up pickleball,’ Olga Voron shared.

Marcel Sharifullin, Director of HSE University's Printing House, is one of the Running Club's most active members. ‘I started running by accident,’ he said. ‘In 2019, I went through a tough time and decided to go for a run in the park one evening. I noticed it helped me feel better. Since then, I have grown to love running and have been doing it for six years. I now run marathon distances, and I believe anyone can do it.’

Oleg Butenko, Senior Lecturer at the School of Public Law, started running after recovering from a lung illness. ‘I initially struggled to breathe, so I began by walking, then running one kilometre, then two, then three. Gradually, I got hooked and now run marathon distances in the mountains, including in Dagestan, on Mount Elbrus, and in Sochi. Running lifts your spirits and improves your health,’ Oleg Butenko noted.

Anna Kozyreva, Director of the Centre for Financial and Administrative Coordination at the AI and Digital Science Institute, observed a significant increase in attendance at this year's Running Club meeting compared to last year. ‘Throughout 2024, we met each other at race starts, supported one another during races, and celebrated each other's successes in our running chat. In November, about 20 people attended our first meeting at Pokrovka. We were there for hours as there were so many running stories to share. Sports bring people together, and personal stories inspire new achievements,’ said Anna Kozyreva. ‘At that meeting we made plans for the upcoming 2025 running season and signed up for a few competitions in a row.’

In 2025 HSE runners are planning to take part in the following races.

In Moscow:

April Run, 5 km (6 April)

Moscow Half Marathon, 5 and 21 km (26–27 April)

Night Run, 10 km (21 June)

Moscow Marathon, 10 and 42 km (21 September)

In St Petersburg:

White Nights Marathon, 10 and 42.2 km (5 July)

Northern Capital Half Marathon, 10 and 21 km (3 August)

In Kazan and other cities:

Kazan Marathon, 42.2, 21.1, 10 and 3 km (3–4 May)

Zabeg.RF, 21.1, 10, 5 and 1 km (24 May)

The idea for the HSE Running Club emerged in 2023 during preparations for the 10th Moscow Marathon. At that time, Anna Kozyreva was training for her first 10 km race and was curious about who else at HSE was interested in running and planning to participate in the marathon. After conducting a survey through the Internal Communications Unit, 25 people expressed interest. ‘In 2023, we met for a group photo by the Lenin Monument at Luzhniki stadium before the start of the race. We realised we wanted to run under the university’s brand and stay in touch with each other. At the beginning of 2024, we officially established the HSE Running Club with branded uniforms under the slogan 'Faster, HSE, Stronger!’ Anna Kozyreva explained.

For the upcoming season, the Running Club aims to organise regular group training sessions, online challenges, meetings with renowned athletes, joint races in Perm, Nizhny Novgorod, St Petersburg, and Kazan, as well as participate in HSE relays and other university competitions.

The meeting also featured guest speakers Sergey Babaev, Master of Sports, silver medallist at the FISU World University Games, and multiple-time champion and prize-winner at Russian championships, along with Valeria Savenkova, Master of Sports, Russian champion, winner of the Russian Athletics Cup, and prize winner of the Russian Championships in the 4x400m relay. They emphasised the importance of maintaining good health and thorough race preparation.

‘People come to running for many reasons—some to relieve stress, others for social interaction. This informal community becomes essential to them, and over time, it forms a running family where everyone supports one another,’ said Sergey Babaev. He also advised beginners to avoid running marathons in their first year and to start with shorter distances, gradually working towards longer goals.

Valeria Savenkova added, ‘When people take up running, they eventually face health-related challenges because the body demands high energy expenditure. It is crucial to monitor your health, undergo regular check-ups, and avoid negative consequences.’

She also highlighted the importance of mental preparation before races, suggesting that both coaches and the running community can provide valuable support. ‘It is easier to reach your first goals together,’ she concluded.

February 19