Inspiring marathon stories from Erbil, New York, and Berlin
Ruba at the Erbil Marathon. Photography by Erin Trieb.
Like many, we’ve had marathons on our minds lately at Free to Run, and we’re thrilled to share some inspiring news with you.
October 27 marked a momentous day as 43 dedicated runners participated in the Erbil Marathon in Iraq. The team had trained diligently all year, eagerly awaiting the chance to test their limits across various distances at the event.
We’re delighted to announce their achievements:
A first-time marathon finisher
14 runners who ran a challenging 32km
12 who completed a half marathon
8 who crossed the finish line in the 12km race
8 who completed the 2km event
These accomplishments set new personal records for many of the team. Beyond overcoming the distance, the course closed early for security reasons and several runners weren’t able to finish the full marathon. We are proud of each one of these girls and young women for challenging themselves in such a profound way.
One particular highlight from the day was the remarkable success of Ruba (pictured) in finishing her first marathon and becoming one of the only Iraqi women to ever do so in the country. Ruba is a 15-year-old Yazidi runner from Duhok/Shariya whose family fled their hometown when ISIS militants captured Sinjar in 2014. Ruba joined Free to Run in March and while she attributes her success to the powerful motivation provided by the team, we know she has worked incredibly hard in her training. We couldn't be happier for Ruba in achieving her goal. In her own words, “The miracle is not that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
At the Berlin Marathon on September 24, a team of 12 runners proudly represented Free to Run, standing up for global gender equality. We had the pleasure of hosting a pre-race brunch at an art studio in Berlin to get to know the team, practice some creative visualization, and say a huge thanks for their fundraising efforts. Our congratulations go to everyone who raced in Berlin!
And just this past weekend on November 5, a team of 17 runners, including three Free to Run program alumni from Afghanistan - Hasina, Fatima, and Zahra - participated in the TCS New York City Marathon. Thank you to everyone who played a role in making this weekend a tremendous success, from the dedicated runners to the generous donors and enthusiastic supporters who cheered our team on from near and far.
We were thrilled that ABC7 New York also covered Hasina, Fatima, and Zahra's stories before the marathon. You can watch the video on their website.
We want to express our deep gratitude to everyone who has been a part of these incredible marathon journeys in 2023, whether by running with us in person or in spirit, donating, fundraising, or spreading the word about our work. These achievements and moments of celebration are only possible thanks to your unwavering support.
Thank you for being an integral part of the Free to Run community.
P.S. If you’re interested in running a marathon with Free to Run next year, be sure to follow us on social media (links below). We’ll post information in the coming months about how to apply for bibs!