Nationwide Running Initiative to Honor October 7 Victims

A new civilian initiative called "Running 7.10" aims to unite Israelis in a shared moment of remembrance and hope through a nationwide run on October 7. The event, scheduled for 6:29 PM, will involve thousands of participants standing for a minute of silence before simultaneously beginning a 7.10-kilometer run or walk from hundreds of different locations across the country.

The initiative was conceived by an individual deeply affected by the October 7 Hamas attacks, who lost friends and acquaintances from his time living in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, including Nadav Goldstein, a dedicated athlete. The organizer felt compelled to channel grief into action, initially dedicating his own ultra-marathon training to the memory of those lost.

"Running 7.10" is designed to be a decentralized, non-competitive, and apolitical event. There are no registration fees, timing, or central organization. Participants are encouraged to form local groups, plan safe routes, and invite their communities to join. The project is driven entirely by volunteers, including athletes, tech professionals, bereaved families, and reservists.

Since its launch two weeks ago, the initiative has seen overwhelming interest, with dozens of municipalities, government bodies, youth movements, and running groups expressing their support and commitment. Dozens of local groups have already been established across Israel, and even some cities abroad plan to participate concurrently. Hundreds have registered, with organizers anticipating thousands of runners on the day.

A key feature of the event allows registered participants to print personal bibs featuring the names of up to five victims they knew personally, or a randomly assigned name from a memorial database. The overarching goal is to ensure the atrocities of October 7 and the memory of its victims are never forgotten, fostering a sense of mutual responsibility, solidarity, and hope through collective physical activity.