Jerusalem 2022 Winner Marathon (Photo Essay)

By BJLIfe/Sharon Altshul
Posted on 03/25/22

Jerusalem, Israel - Mar. 25, 2022 - After a week of bone-chilling, record cold, and wet weather, leaving large puddles in Jerusalem's Gan Sacher, the 11th Jerusalem Winner Marathon was held on Friday morning, March 25, 2022. In spite of rain on and off all morning, and bitter cold the official number was 25,000 registered participants in the 6 race categories: Full marathon and half-marathon, 10km race, 5km race, family race – 1.7km and a special social race – 800 meters. It was reported that 11,000 runners came from around the world for these races. The Ukrainian flag was displayed much more than in the past this year.

The winner of the full men's marathon was Ageze Guadie, 33 years old, from Israel in a time of  2:37:17. He needed time to recuperate from the extreme cold after his winning run. Many runners left quickly after finishing the race due to the weather conditions.

First place women's winner was Valentyna  Kiliarska a Ukrainian female marathon runner and the Ukraine champion in cross country. She fled the war in Ukraine last month with her child taking shelter in Poland. She was winner of Warsaw's half marathon 2021, champion Tirana Albania marathon 2021, champion Bulgaria marathon 2021, and 3d place Mainz Germany marathon 2018. Valentyna arrived in Israel in time to run the Jerusalem Marathon. Masha Radko, also originally from Ukraine, came in 2nd place for the women's half-marathon. She came to Israel for the recent Tel Aviv Marathon and decided to stay and not return to her home in Budapest before the Jerusalem Marathon. 

However, Israeli professional marathon runner Beatie Deutsch announced on Facebook that she would not be able to run in the Jerusalem Marathon this year. "Since I began running 6 years ago, I have never missed a Jerusalem Marathon. It's honestly my favorite race and I love everything about it. I'm so disappointed I won't be able to this year because of a minor injury. I have been dealing with a possible ligament sprain in my knee for the past three weeks." She added, "I might not be able to run this time but I can still raise money for Beit Daniella." Her worthy cause is a place of respite for children and teens struggling emotionally.

Each year the Jerusalem Marathon has seen more charitable organizations participate to raise money. With the 2020 International Jerusalem Marathon canceled due to the looming pandemic, many non-profits suffered serious financial losses. The 10th Jerusalem Marathon was mostly limited to Israeli runners in October 2021 because of the Corona closings.

For the first time in the Jerusalem Marathon, in an effort to make their 50th birthday a significant one, friends from Bnei Akiva - Shevet Dror in the UK decided to run/walk the 10 km race to raise money in memory of a dear friend Jonny Baker z'l who passed away from cancer last year. They chose to raise money for an organization called Place2Heal a non-profit created by Jody Bogen, a cancer survivor, which takes existing spaces in cancer treatment centers in Israeli hospitals and transforms them into more positive and healthy environments. Originally they had hoped friends would come from abroad, but Corona changed the plans of some of the UK crowd. At the end of the race, the friends planned to meet with their friend Jonny's z'l children, but the weather conditions kept BJL from finding them in the crowd, though there were many fewer supporters than usual in the park.

The Kav L’Noar team included nearly 80 runners. AMIT, Shalva, and Yachad are other large groups present each year.  IDF soldiers were active in large numbers over the years, even before there was a full marathon, in the annual Jerusalem half-marathon.  

The Michael Levin Base anticipated between 120-140 runners, depending on how many could be released from army duties for the day. Not all their runners were currently serving. Rabbi Sholom Rothman ran half-marathons years ago in New York and decided to train and run the Jerusalem half-marathon to raise money for The Base. 

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion got a ride to the starting line located near the Knesset and Israel Museum. The mud in the park became more of a problem as the day went on and more rain fell.  The entrance to the park from the finish line located outside of Sacher Park, where runners got their medals became extremely muddy and difficult to walk.

The number of spectators was noticeable less than previous Jerusalem Marathons due to the weather predictions of rain all day.

Some families decided on shorter races, but showed up to run. All age groups were spotted in the crowd of supporters. With streets closed to traffic in multiple Jerusalem neighborhoods until early afternoon, families were seen walking home considerable distances, away from the mud filled Sacher Park main events. Health support services were out in full force, along the route and in the park EMT tent. A medical clown on a bike early in the morning was making sure those workers standing around security barriers were alright. She got one early morning group jumping to warm up.

Donations to any of the dozens of good causes are still welcome.

Jonny Baker - www.p2h.co.il/#donate 

BEIT DANIELLA - https://www.jgive.com/.../ils/donation-targets/69262/charity

The Base https://themichaellevinbase.org.il/

The Photo essay includes the foreign media press launch with the Mayor introducing Valentyna  Kiliarska held at the Tower of David in the Old City on a cold and wet night, and the race registration and pasta party held at Cinema City, both held the night before the race.

Now to rest up from the clock change and marathon, and try and warm up from the damp cold.

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem