TEL AVIV, ISRAEL | Runners will cross some of Israel’s most distinctive landscapes this fall as Marathon Israel launches a four-event series that combines competitive and recreational running with remembrance, nature, wine, tourism, and support for communities across the country.
The series begins Oct. 16 with the inaugural Race of Hope in the Western Negev, followed by Israel’s Beaujolais Race in the Gezer region on Oct. 23, the Crane Race at Hula Lake in the Upper Galilee on Oct. 30, and the Eilat International Desert Marathon on Nov. 27.
Together, the events will take runners from communities and fields near the Gaza border to central Israel’s vineyards, the nature reserves of the north and the mountains and desert valleys surrounding Eilat.
Marathon Israel CEO Ofer Padan said each event was designed to offer runners a distinct experience while encouraging them to explore different parts of Israel.
“We are proud to present four unique races, each different in character and atmosphere, across various regions of Israel, from the Upper Galilee to Eilat,” Padan said.
The events also carry a broader objective at a time when communities and tourism businesses in several parts of Israel continue rebuilding following years of war and disruption.
Padan said the races give participants an opportunity to discover different parts of the country while supporting local businesses and tourism.
Race Of Hope Connects Remembrance With Renewal
The fall calendar begins with an entirely new event.
The Race of Hope will take place Oct. 16 in the Western Negev, where communities were devastated during the Hamas-led terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.
Marathon Israel describes the race as an event built around remembrance, recovery, and renewing communities in the region.
The routes will pass through Western Negev communities, renewed agricultural fields and memorial locations associated with the Oct. 7 attacks. Along the way, participants will encounter stations designed to tell stories of loss, survival and recovery.
The event is a joint initiative of Marathon Israel and runners from the Western Negev.
Marathon Israel’s current event information lists four distances: 3 kilometers, 6.7 kilometers, 13 kilometers and 22 kilometers. The longest course begins and finishes at Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the communities hardest hit during the Oct. 7 massacre.
The race is being organized as a collective event rather than a conventional competition.
Following the runs, organizers plan an outdoor market featuring produce, food, art and other products from communities in the region, along with performances by local artists.
Padan said the inaugural race represents “the ability of the people of Israel to rise from disaster to revival.”
The event transforms running into something larger than athletic competition. For participants, the route is intended to provide a physical encounter with communities that have become central to Israel’s national story since Oct. 7.
Wine, Costumes And Running Through The Vineyards
One week later, the atmosphere will change dramatically.
Israel’s Beaujolais Race will take place Oct. 23 in the vineyards around Hulda and the Gezer region, inspired by France’s famous Beaujolais running tradition.
Rather than focusing primarily on finishing times or personal records, the event centers on celebration.
Participants are encouraged to run in costumes, with wine tastings, music and festivities incorporated into the experience.
Marathon Israel describes it as one of the happiest events on the country’s running calendar.
The race is restricted to participants aged 18 and older because of the wine component. Current event information lists 5, 8 and 12-kilometre courses.
The routes travel through vineyards, agricultural paths and the countryside surrounding Hulda, with wine stations and an after-party forming part of the event.
Padan said the race is intended to combine a festive atmosphere with “strong appreciation for Israeli wines.”
Runners Head North For The Crane Race
The series then moves to one of northern Israel’s best-known natural environments.
The Crane Race will be held Oct. 30 at Hula Lake in the Upper Galilee in partnership with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund.
The largely flat course takes runners through the Hula Valley landscape, surrounded by views of the Golan Heights and Naftali Mountains.
The area is internationally known for its importance to migratory birds. Tens of thousands of cranes pass through the region during their seasonal migration, making the race as much a nature experience as a sporting event.
Participants can choose among a half marathon distance of 21.1 kilometers, a 10-kilometer course and a four-kilometer route.
The northern event also carries an economic dimension.
Communities and tourism businesses across the Galilee were severely affected during the war with Hezbollah, when tens of thousands of northern residents were evacuated from their homes and tourism activity across the region was disrupted.
Padan said bringing runners back to the Upper Galilee is intended in part to support northern residents and businesses.
Eilat Desert Marathon Closes The Series
The final event will take runners to the opposite end of the country.
The Eilat International Desert Marathon is scheduled for Nov. 27 and will offer the series’ most demanding distance, a full 42.2-kilometer marathon.
Organized in partnership with the Eilat Municipality, the event also includes 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer and 21.1-kilometer courses.
Marathon Israel describes it as the country’s only marathon held entirely in a desert setting.
The route takes runners from the Eilat area into the Southern Arava, passing through a landscape of mountains, desert valleys and views associated with the Red Sea region.
The marathon attracts runners from Israel and abroad and is recognized by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.
For Eilat, the event also draws tourists as Israel enters the winter travel season.
Running As A Way To Rediscover Israel
While the four races differ substantially, organizers have connected them through a common emphasis on experiencing Israel beyond the conventional racecourse.
One event takes runners through places associated with the trauma and recovery of Oct. 7. Another turns vineyards into a celebration of Israeli wine. The Crane Race highlights the Upper Galilee’s natural environment, while Eilat offers the physical challenge of running through the desert.
The series also directs participants toward communities and tourism regions that have endured significant disruption since the outbreak of war in October 2023.
For Padan, that connection between running and place is central to the concept.
“All these events offer participants a wonderful opportunity to get to know beautiful parts of the country and contribute to local businesses and tourism,” he said. “We promise participants an unforgettable experience at every one of these races.”
The first runners will take to the Western Negev course on Oct. 16, beginning an autumn journey that will end six weeks later in the desert outside Eilat.
TheJ.ca receives no government money. Independent journalism depends on readers who believe these stories must be told. Consider supporting our efforts.
Stand Proud. Stand Strong. Stand Zionist.
