Int’l Women’s Day journey begins at starting line

Looking to mark International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8? It’s not too late to head to My Start Line, a global attempt begun by one Israeli woman who wants to circle the world with women and their dreams.

The culmination of the project will take place on Wednesday evening at 9:30 p.m. at the WMN space in the Tel Aviv port.

It’s a concept initiated by Reut Reuveni, a former Nike Israel communications manager turned women’s mentor, who wants to create a marathon of women running a total of 40,000 kilometers over the course of International Women’s Day, with each woman running according to her ability, from one step to tens of kilometers.

Each participant can register her mileage on the My Start Line website, where all the kilometers and steps will be added up together.

“Each woman decides on her own Start Line,” said Reuveni, “where it will be, with whom and to where. Each step of each woman is a donation to the ultimate goal.”

The idea began after Reuveni began running on her own several years ago, following two pregnancies in quick succession.

“I had to find a way to return to myself,” she said.

Now Reuveni is a mentor for women who discover their dreams and act on them, through running.

For My Start Line, she brought together women’s organizations that are influential in Israel, including WeWork, Mama Guru, Queens of the Desert, Mamazone and others, totaling more than 1,300,000 members.

“The point of the marathon is to get as many women as possible to start their journey, and to enjoy it,” said Reuveni. “In 2017, no one limits women to their starting line, or how they cross it and with whom. I can run when I want to, how I want to. We’re stronger together, and we strengthen each other.”

The culmination of My Start Line will take place on Wednesday evening, March 8, at 9:30 p.m. at the WMN space in the Tel Aviv port. Register on the My Start Line Facebook page or website.