Winner Jerusalem Marathon 2026: A marathon of resilience in Israel’s capital

Ayelet Cohen Vider, clinical psychologist, will be among those running. (credit: Courtesy Ayelet Cohen Vider)

Stories of anticipation

For many runners, the decision to participate this year carries meaning beyond the race itself.
“I am running because I can, and the security situation allows it,” Aliza Haas, a 10 km. participant who is running for the therapeutic nonprofit Refanah, where bed & breakfast owners donate nights for cancer patients in need, told InJerusalem.

“I have been running in Jerusalem’s marathon since it started; my husband runs, my kids run. It is one of the most rewarding experiences, especially running through the Old City.”

Others described the marathon as both a personal and shared experience across generations.

Yair Singer is running the 10 km., while his son Roi (age 16) is running the half-marathon. “The cultural experience is surreal, running around Jerusalem,” Roi said. “Running is a form of release and for me is good for the spirit.” His father, Yair, added: “Running in Jerusalem is special. It is harder than the Tel Aviv marathon. What makes it great is the atmosphere, the diversity of people. It is a holiday, a holiday dedicated to running.”

For some, even the disruptions of war have not fully halted their routines.
Reservist David Ben Dov from the Breakfast Running Club is similarly upbeat, with limited impact from the war on his training. “Fortunately, the recent war had only a limited impact on my runs. We were fortunate that in Jerusalem there weren’t many sirens, and even when there were, there was no shortage of ditches to lie down in for a few minutes of rest.”

At the same time, others have had to adapt more significantly to the new reality.
Ruty Fiszon, a Jerusalem-area nutritionist and running trainer who manages several women’s and girls’ running groups, said the past months have been “a bit of a setback,” especially as “many women were afraid to run outside.” Despite this, she emphasized that “on the whole, we managed to continue,” adapting by organizing runs “around bomb shelters, creating a safe way to run from shelter to shelter.”

Fiszon works with runners of all levels, including teenage girls, and often runs alongside them. “I don’t run for myself,” she explained, “I run to support my clients.” This year, she plans to take part in the 5 km. and 10 km. races “for other women,” as well as the 0.8 km. community run with her family.
Looking ahead to race day, she noted that many participants feel underprepared.

“Some tell me they aren’t as ready as they should be,” she said, but her advice is simple: “Just enjoy it. It’s a beautiful marathon in the most beautiful city. We don’t need to focus on goals this year, just on running, relaxing, and appreciating that we can.”

Fiszon also stressed proper preparation: “Do a light 20-minute warm-up the day before, with mobility and stretching.” Nutritionally, she recommended “half a banana, a date, and coconut water with a teaspoon of Himalayan salt” to provide essential electrolytes before the run.

A marathon event to celebrate Jerusalem

Beyond the individual stories, organizers say the event itself carries national significance this year.

Ariela Rejwan, director-general of the Jerusalem Municipality and chief organizer of the marathon, is very excited to coordinate the 15th Winner Marathon. “We will be the first major sporting event since Operation Roaring Lion. We are returning to routine. It will also show the mental resilience of the Israeli public in Jerusalem and the impact that such a community-based event has during this time,” she said.

The event, which was originally moved from March, will be based on Home Front Command regulations.
Rejwan emphasized that, as many runners haven’t trained as they should (or have only recently resumed training), participants are being given flexibility this year. The organizers are allowing runners to upgrade or downgrade their races depending on their abilities.

“I believe that many participants waited. Over 40,000 participants is a major accomplishment. Over 4,000 people have registered since the ceasefire,” she said. “What is important to state is that 900 foreigners have remained registered despite travel uncertainty. All we need is one flight for them to be on, and we are doing all that is possible to help them.

“We are on the map as one of the most challenging and beautiful marathons. A person doesn’t so quickly cancel his participation,” she said.

She also noted that the weather may present an additional challenge.
“The recommended month for marathons in Israel is February, and extended to March in Jerusalem. Once we held it at the beginning of April, but it is very risky.”
She concluded with a broader message about the city.

These sentiments are echoed by mayorship.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said earlier this week, “The Winner Jerusalem Marathon is far more than a sporting event; it is an expression of the spirit of the city and its residents. This is a moment that marks a return to activity and national resilience in the capital city of Jerusalem.”

He emphasized that the event will be safe for the running public. “The safety of participants is always our top priority, and now, with the improvement in the security situation, we are happy to open the gates of Jerusalem to tens of thousands of runners from Israel and around the world. I invite everyone to come, run, and take part.”

Running through war

Alongside the physical challenge, the marathon also reflects a deeper psychological dimension.
Ayelet Cohen Vider, clinical psychologist, head of the Women’s Mental Health Unit at Meuhedet Health Services in Jerusalem, who has also treated men in various professional roles, will be among the runners this year.

“First of all, we know that physical exercise directly impacts emotional health and endorphins,” she explained. “If I go to a workout, there is stress, but it can be structured. This is very different from an air raid siren, which is unplanned and takes much longer for the stress system to regulate.”

In contrast to the unpredictability of war, she noted, “Sports can be managed and expected, the transition from stress to relief is flexible and smooth.”

Beyond mental health, Cohen Vider emphasized the wide-ranging physical benefits of exercise, including cardiovascular health, emotional resilience, and even its positive effects on conditions such as diabetes, fertility challenges, and chronic pain.

“Endorphins are a great remedy for many things,” she said.
At the same time, she cautions against unrealistic expectations.
“It is important not to go from zero to one hundred,” she warned. “Many people didn’t train consistently this past month. If they come to the race unprepared, they risk failure and potential injury.”

Instead, she urges runners to adapt:
“We need to adjust our expectations to reality. If we didn’t train properly, we shouldn’t expect the same results. The mere fact this year is that going out for a run is an accomplishment in itself.”
Despite the challenges, she sees meaning in the event.

“Every decision has a good and a bad side,” she reflected. “On one hand, people didn’t have time to prepare. On the other, it allows us to keep a sense of routine, to hold onto a kind of festival before the summer.”

For Cohen Vider, the marathon is both celebration and remembrance.
“It’s a Jerusalemite festival, with music and people gathering in Sacher Park,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate life.”

Yet she is clear-eyed about the context:
“It will not be a marathon like we had before 2023. This is a marathon during wartime.”
She runs wearing a shirt bearing the image of Hirsh Goldberg-Polin.

“We must hold all the pieces of the puzzle,” she said. “We cannot ignore the difficult reality. Even as we run, we remember the soldiers, those in reserve duty, and families under strain.”
Still, she continues to run around bomb shelters, in hotel spaces, wherever possible.
“We find a way,” she said simply.

As I run on a track overlooking the Mediterranean, making sure to practice hills but also pace, the Jerusalem race approaches with anticipation. Joining over 40,000 other runners in Israel’s capital city, pending Home Front Command regulations, the Jerusalem Marathon 2026 will show a unified Israel in spirit and resilience.