In recent months, Jerusalem has become a city that is increasingly difficult to move through. Large-scale infrastructure works, constant excavations, blocked roads and severe traffic congestion have turned everyday travel into a prolonged challenge. Residents describe routine trips between neighborhoods that can take an hour or more, while central areas of the city feel almost permanently jammed. The prevailing sense is of a city that has slowed to a near standstill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within this strained urban reality, a different kind of movement will take place on Friday, March 27, 2026. The Jerusalem Winner Marathon will be held for the 15th time, drawing tens of thousands of runners from Israel and around the world. For one day, a city defined by gridlock will replace traffic jams with footsteps, horns with breathing, and blocked streets with running routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Light rail construction and other major infrastructure projects currently intersect with nearly every central artery in Jerusalem. Roads are repeatedly closed and reopened, lanes are narrowed, public transport routes are altered, and residents are forced to plan even short journeys with care. Traffic in Jerusalem and ongoing road closures are no longer temporary disruptions, but a defining feature of daily life in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Against this backdrop, closing streets for the Jerusalem Winner Marathon takes on a different meaning. Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion notes that \u201cthe marathon is much more than a sporting event, it is an expression of strength, mutual responsibility, unity and the Jerusalem spirit,\u201d and adds that \u201conce again we salute IDF soldiers, security and rescue forces and reservists who protect us every day, and invite them to take part in an international celebration of sport, community and hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Jerusalem Winner Marathon is widely regarded as one of the most challenging and scenic marathons in the world, with routes passing historic landmarks and iconic city views. This year, it takes place amid a particularly complex urban reality, where everyday movement across the city feels increasingly restricted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa, Head of the IDF Manpower Directorate, describes the broader meaning of the event, noting that \u201cIDF service members, both regular and reserve, are the driving force behind Israeli society,\u201d and adding that \u201cthe resilience of the nation and the security of the state depend on our unity.\u201d He further explains that \u201cduring the marathon, we will run together alongside bereaved families and wounded veterans, remember hope and the city that was joined together, and strengthen the human and national bond that is the source of our strength.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Event sponsors also emphasize the marathon\u2019s wider significance. Toto Chairman Shabtai Tzur notes that \u201cin its 15th year, there is no doubt that the Jerusalem Winner Marathon has become an institution in Israeli sport and society, attracting tens of thousands of participants each year from Israel and abroad.\u201d Toto CEO Meir Bardugo explains that \u201cthe Jerusalem Winner Marathon and Toto have been running together for 15 consecutive years,\u201d stressing that \u201cfor Toto this is not just sponsorship, but a genuine partnership in a flagship international event that showcases the positive face of Israel and its people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Participants will receive a dedicated runner\u2019s kit including an official marathon shirt, bib number, timing chip and additional benefits. The Jerusalem Winner Marathon is managed by the Jerusalem Municipality\u2019s Sports Department in cooperation with national and municipal partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Jerusalem Winner Marathon will not solve the city\u2019s transportation problems. But in a city that has felt stuck for months, it offers one day of a different kind of movement \u2013 deliberate, human and free. When Jerusalem cannot drive, running becomes a way to reclaim motion, breath and a sense of normalcy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In recent months, Jerusalem has become a city that is increasingly difficult to move through. Large-scale infrastructure works, constant excavations, blocked roads and severe traffic congestion have turned everyday travel into a prolonged challenge. Residents describe routine trips between neighborhoods that can take an hour or more, while central areas of the city feel almost […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":147756,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"When Jerusalem Can\u2019t Drive, It Turns to Running","_seopress_titles_desc":"Jerusalem Winner Marathon on March 27, 2026 \u2013 as the city has been stuck for months with excavations, gridlock and blocked roads","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10327,9319,9314,10336],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-147758","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-breaking","8":"category-jerusalem-updates","9":"category-main-item","10":"category-sport"},"acf":{"subtitle":"Jerusalem Winner Marathon on March 27, 2026 \u2013 as the city has been stuck for months with excavations, gridlock and blocked roads"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147758"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147758\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}