Upcoming Events

Believing in the profound power of our imaginations to envision new ways to foster peace and harmony on the planet, the Imagine Peace Network was formed to provide a forum for people to join together to become a creative force for change.  Hoping to be a catalyst in this peaceful transformation, IPN promotes dialogue and collaboration as a way for people to feel empathy, gain respect and develop trust for people from different backgrounds and beliefs.   

With this goal in mind, the Imagine Peace Network has joined with the Arlington Cooperation Foundation and the Greater Washington Sports Alliance, and Friends of the World Food Program to host the International Peace Half Marathon and 8K race.  This event is a co-operative effort of running clubs and charities to bring together runners from all over the US and around the world to compete for peace. Athletes from many countries, including some currently undergoing hostilities, like India and Pakistan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Israel and Palestine, Greece and Turkey, North and South Korea and China and Taiwan will have the opportunity to spend a week-end of running, fun and learning together. At sunrise on race day, the warm-up will be a majestic parade of flags and national anthems, sponsored by Alamo Flag.  A vegetarian, post-race picnic will mirror the ethnic diversity of our national and international athletes by offering food provided by a melting pot of local restaurants. This peace event will allow participants to experience how much our human family has in common, rather than focusing on differences, which is often the prism people use to see the world.  

Not only will the proceeds from the race go to the Marathon Charity Partners,  a co-op of international charities,  (make a link to a list of the charities – see below) but the runners and event participants will be able to attend a College of Running and Peace the day before the race.  The College of Peace will offer peace games for children and workshops, including dialogues focusing on how sports and movement contribute to international understanding; will be among the workshops offered that day.  Those in attendance will learn why sports are considered one of the five international languages along with music, art, math and science. A team of international peace builders will lead these interactive workshops.

The College of Running will provide valuable information on a variety of topics vital to runners, such as nutrition, hydration, treating typical running injuries, training tips for winning marathons and much more!

So mark your calendar for July 16th when the International Peace Half Marathon and 8K race will be run at Belle Haven Park on George Washington Memorial Parkway and for July 15th when the College of Running and Peace will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott, 2700 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA from 1:30 – 5:30 pm. There will be no charge to register for the College of Running or the College of Peace.

To learn more about the event, registration to run in the race and how you can contribute to this worthwhile cause go to: www.marathoncharitypartners.org/prrhalf.  And return to this site closer to the date for a more detailed agenda for the College of Running and Peace.

Write us at imagine_peace@att.net.