Rapid Travel Chai

The Marathon of Afghanistan is in the works for autumn 2016, register here to be updated as it comes together. For security reasons, not all information is made public in advance.

I realize not many of even the most hardcore runners will make that run, what I want to highlight is the success of the first race in 2015.

Highlights:

• Zainab became the first Afghan woman to run a marathon in her country
• 120 runners participated in the marathon and associated 10-km race
• Race was in Bamian Province, home to the colossal Buddhas statues destroyed by the Taliban, and now one of the most stable parts of the county

Here are English and French reports on the race:

Also see articles in the Guardian here and here, Daily Mail photo essay here, and Untamed Borders facebook photo gallery here.

The race is organized by:

• Free to Run, a non-profit dedicated to sports for Afghan women
• Untamed Borders, a travel agency specializing in difficult areas that I highlighted yesterday for their Journey to the Largest Italian Fascist Statue in the World at the Tip of the Horn of Africa
• The Afghan Ski Challenge

These are people who have not given up on a land many have written off.

Take a look, be inspired, consider a vote of support for this great effort.