The 15th annual Jerusalem Winner Marathon will take place Friday after being postponed due to the war with Iran, under extreme heat and haze conditions that have led organizers to cancel the full marathon and adjust the event schedule.
The race is expected to cause widespread traffic disruptions across the city, with extensive road closures beginning overnight. Ben Zvi and Ruppin boulevards will close to traffic starting at 3 a.m., followed by dozens of major streets from 4 a.m., including Rabin Boulevard, Kaplan Street, Keren Hayesod, King George Street, Emek Refaim and Hebron Road. Roads are expected to reopen around 1 p.m., though disruptions will also affect surrounding streets connected to the race routes.
Parking along parts of the course, including Ben Zvi and State Comptroller streets, will be prohibited starting at 4 p.m. Thursday. Vehicles left on those routes will not be able to leave until roads reopen Friday afternoon. In addition, parking areas near national institutions, museums and government offices will be reserved exclusively for marathon participants and closed to the general public.
Despite the extensive closures, public transportation will continue to operate with adjustments. The Jerusalem light rail will run as usual. Israel Railways will operate overnight and throughout Friday, but passenger capacity will be limited to 1,200 per train, with advance booking required via the website or app. City and intercity bus routes will see significant changes, and authorities directed passengers to updated information services for alternative routes.
To assist participants and residents, free shuttle buses will operate between Teddy Stadium and Sacher Park from 4:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For those needing to cross the city, several main routes will remain open, including Begin Boulevard, Herzl Boulevard, Route 9, Golda Meir Boulevard and the Ein Kerem axis.
Earlier this week, the Jerusalem municipality announced that the full marathon (42 kilometers) would be canceled following a professional assessment of the weather conditions. Officials said the decision was made out of concern for the safety and health of runners, participants and staff, citing the risks posed by high temperatures and heavy haze.
Medical officials involved in the event warned that long-distance running under such conditions can pose significant health risks, even for experienced runners, emphasizing the need to prioritize public safety.
As a result of the heat, all remaining races have been moved to earlier hours. The half marathon will start at 5:15 a.m. The 10-kilometer races will be held in three waves at 6:30 a.m., 6:45 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. The 800-meter community run will begin at 8:00 a.m., followed by 5-kilometer races at 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. The final event, a 1.7-kilometer family run, is scheduled for 9:15 a.m.
Officials said preparations are ongoing in coordination with security, medical and production teams to ensure the event is held safely, and that the public will be updated on any further changes if necessary.