Thousands of runners will take to the streets of Jerusalem on Friday, for the ninth Jerusalem Winner Marathon, one of Israel’s largest marathons.
Some 40,000 runners are registered to participate in this year’s event – a 15 percent increase over last year – making this the largest Jerusalem marathon ever. The figure includes 4,600 international runners; according to the office of Mayor Moshe Lion, the event is expected to bring some NIS 20 million in revenue to the city.
The event, which includes several tracks, takes all the runners past historical sites that illuminate the 3,000 years of history of Israel’s eternal capital.
“The International Jerusalem Winner Marathon combines physical endurance with exquisite landscapes, fresh mountain air and unique culture and heritage sites such as the Israeli Knesset, Mahane Yehuda Marketplace, Mount Scopus, the Old City, David’s Tower, Haas Promenade and more,” according to the marathon website.
The route is described as a “challenging, thrilling and unforgettable experience for all runners.”
Team “Lions of Zion” (Run4Ari) will run in the Jerusalem Winner International Marathon on Friday, March 15, 2019, in collaboration with The ARI FULD Project and Standing Together, to keep the late Ari Fuld’s mission alive. The team’s name recalls the name “Ari” (Lion in Hebrew).
On September 16, 2018, when Ari was shopping at a local supermarket a savage 16-year-old terrorist stabbed him, severing his main artery. Miraculously, Ari found the energy to chase the terrorist and shoot at him, attracting the attention of a fellow Israeli who helped neutralize the murderer. Ari’s final act on earth was to save others. Ari died shortly thereafter.
Ari’s final project was to raise $300,000 to purchase a ten-ton hospitality truck, fitted with pizza ovens, refrigerators and additional equipment for Standing Together, in order to expand the group’s capabilities in supporting IDF soldiers.
One of the ways Standing Together and The ARI FULD Project are working to complete Ari Fuld’s final act of compassionate giving is to publicize it through Team Lions of Zion’s participation in the March 15 Jerusalem Marathon.
The funds raised through this effort will go to purchasing Ari’s dream, and the remainder will be used to fund The ARI FULD Project.
The marathon takes place from 6 am to 2 pm local time and runners are told to arrive at the starting line 15 minutes ahead. In order to participate in the race, runners must have conducted regular training, be under medical supervision and be healthy and fit to run, and attest to the fact by signing a detailed electronic Health Declaration form on the website during registration.
Prior to the marathon, the city held a three-day sports and health expo (March 12-14) which featured special discounts on sports apparel, accessories and equipment, fitness workouts in collaboration with top Israeli gyms, lectures and kit distributions. Each runner also received their marathon kit at the expo as well.
The Jerusalem Winner Marathon is run by the Sports Department of the Jerusalem Municipality, in cooperation with the Jerusalem Development Authority and with the support and assistance of the Jerusalem Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture and Sport, and under the auspices of Toto Winner. The event is produced by Target Market.