In early September, the Nalibok bicycle marathon was held for the 12th time in the heart of Europe's largest forest. Every year, this popular amateur race brings athletes and sports enthusiasts away from the hustle and bustle of the city to the Belarusian forest. There are no restrictions on participation in the marathon. The 42 km, 100 km, and 200 km courses pass through natural scenery that includes rapeseed fields, mosquito-infested trails, and logging tracks.

Dmitry Adamovich

"This is the first time I participated in a bike marathon. I wisely decided that I should start with the 42 km course. The morning before the start of the race was cold, and later it rained heavily. Closer to the start time, the weather cleared up, and I can say with full confidence that we got lucky with the weather. The competition was done in what felt like one breath, without failures or delays," shared Dmitry Adamovich, a System Administrator at the AsstrA corporate group.

Marathon fans and participants enjoyed a number of pleasant side attractions including an outdoor food court and countryside photo shoots. The warm sun and cool Isloch river contributed to the active weekend’s festive atmosphere.

Sergey Krashevsky

"You should prepare for such events in advance, both physically and psychologically. After all, a race like this shows your true character. It demands perseverance and the ability to keep going until the bitter end. As for weather conditions, as they say, "the show must go on." For the guys who had been training for the 100 km and 200 km courses, the weather hardly affected them. It was harder for the untrained. There was plenty of positive emotions, fresh air, and pleasant company. Everything came together nicely on this September day," adds Sergey Krashevsky, Head of Business Application Administration Division at AsstrA.