Ask anyone who runs regularly to tell you why they love it, and you’ll soon realise you’ve made a mistake. Most of us can talk for hours about how running makes us feel; once you’ve caught the bug, you understand exactly why so many people push themselves through marathons or pound the pavements every single day.

There’s just something about it that keeps you coming back. And when you note the added health benefits – ranging from increased cardiovascular fitness to reduced stress – it’s easy to see why so many people love it.

But being able to run is more than just a fun hobby – it’s a privilege. That’s the message behind The Secret 3K, an International Women’s Day initiative from Canada that aims to create safe spaces for women and girls to run and raise awareness of those around the world who are still unable to do so.  

The event came to be in 2016 after founders Kate McKenzie and Martin Parnell were inspired by the Marathon of Afghanistan – a race set up by a young Afghan woman called Zainab in a bid to provide a space for people of all ages, genders and incomes to run safely and freely. The first race happened in 2015, and to ensure that the participants were safe from attack, the organisers kept the route a secret. After training in a small courtyard for months on end, Zainab took on the marathon with two friends by her side (the only three women who took part) and became the first Afghan woman to complete a marathon in Afghanistan. 

When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Marathon of Afghanistan was no longer able to take place, and it’s not known if or when it’ll be held again. Many of the original organisers were forced to flee the country, and some are still in hiding. But in a bid to keep the spirit of the race going, as well as raise money and awareness of the women around the world who aren’t able to run safely, The Secret 3K has continued.

McKenzie and Parnell had originally been in Afghanistan to film the second Marathon of Afghanistan and decided to set up The Secret 3K to pay tribute to women like Zainab and provide a space for women to run together safely, without fear of being sexually harassed, attacked or made to feel uncomfortable.

Since then, the event has expanded, providing events for women to run across Canada and welcoming virtual participants from around the world. Over the years, people from 27 different countries have taken part.

The race, which you can complete at any point in the run-up to International Women’s Day this week, costs CA$15 (£8.70) to enter. The profits go to the event’s three charity partners: the Afghan Sports Trust, which supports Afghan athletes at home and abroad to access sport opportunities; 30 Birds, an organisation that has helped to evacuate and resettle Afghan girls and their families to safety outside Afghanistan; and 261 Fearless, a non-profit that uses running to empower and unite women across the world.

To find out more about The Secret 3K and register for the event, you can check out their website. 

Images: Getty