Today we are joining together with others around the world to support everyone’s right to be free to run. Today we will each be wearing our Equality race bibs to show the kind of future we want - one where everyone feels safe and included in our community. 

This event would not be possible without the support of The Secret Marathon film, Running Room and our charity partner Marathon of Afghanistan. We have raised over $$$$ this year which will help the Marathon to grow and to allow more Afghans to run freely! We are also proud to support Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan and 261 Fearless who are working locally and globally to remove barriers to women accessing sport and education. Thank you for your generosity. 

The Secret 3K is an opportunity to celebrate everyone’s right to be free to walk and run in their community. It was first inspired by the Marathon of Afghanistan. This marathon has to keep their route secret to avoid being the target of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. Yet it is the first co-gender sporting event to ever be held in Afghanistan. Despite the challenges, women and men are participating in the Marathon to show the kind of future they want for their country. This story inspired two Canadian runners, Martin Parnell and Kate McKenzie to go over to support the Marathon of Afghanistan and to create a documentary film about their journey called The Secret Marathon.

When they returned to Canada and started sharing about their experience, many Canadians could hardly believe that there were places in the world where people were not safe or free to run outside. One of the women Martin and Kate met was named Zainab. When Zainab tried to run outside but people threw rocks at her, insulted her and she even received threats from terrorists so she had to train for the 42km Marathon by doing laps around her enclosed courtyard, a space not much larger than the average one-bedroom apartment! Despite these challenges, Zainab was able to complete the marathon to become Afghanistan’s first female marathoner to complete a marathon in Afghanistan. 

Sadly, even here in Canada there are those who don’t feel safe to go for a run alone, or at night or in neighbourhoods where there may have been violence. Inspired by the example of the Marathon of Afghanistan, the Secret 3K believes that safe races can create safe places. This week we will be celebrating International Women’s Day and as a community we look forward to a day when all people around the world can feel safe to go for a run in their own community.

Before you start your run today, we encourage you to take a photo wearing your race bib to show that you are joining us in solidarity as we run, walk and work together for equality.

SHARE YOUR PHOTOS USING #SECRET3K