Secret 3K
The Secret 3K is now owned and operated by the 30 Birds Foundation
as a social enterprise. If this is your first time here, please take a look and get to know our work with Afghan women and girls.
Under the ownership of 30 Birds, the Secret 3K will maintain its core values of safety, inclusivity, accessibility, sustainability, and gender equality honoring the young Afghan women who inspired it through the Marathon of Afghanistan.
Secret 3k 2026
When?
May 24, from 10AM to 12PM (check-in starts at 9AM)
Where?
Victoria Park near the canoe club, Saskatoon, SK
What?
This event invites you to walk, jog, or run alongside a community coming together for something deeper. The run is open to all, with a $15 registration fee, and all proceeds support our work in empowering the young Afghan women of our community.
Come as you are, bring your people, and be part of a movement for gender equality and belonging.
Kids 12 years old and under participate for free.
After the run, we’ll slow down together with a yoga session led by the amazing Jenn Pippin
FAQs
Where does the money go?
All proceeds from this event go to supporting the development and success of young women in our WINGSPAN community through our programs. The WINGSPAN community is made up of 200 young women who have fled Afghanistan and are settling and
thriving across Canada.
How can I get involved as a volunteer with 30 Birds?
You are awesome for asking this question. You can get involved by filling out this form right here, and we will get back to you soon.
How do I register for The Secret 3K this year?
Click on this link and fill in your information. We’ll see you soon!
I am going to the event, how can I tag 30 Birds on social media?
You can find us on Instagram here, on LinkedIn here, and on Facebook here. No TikTok for us yet
Who to contact for media requests and collaborations?
For media collaborations, please email info@30birdsfoundation.org.
How do I know more about the story behind the Secret 3K?
Simply continue scrolling to learn more about how the Secret 3K started and watch the documentary that inspired it.
Yes, there is a full documentary!
How can we participate from outside of Saskatoon?
When registering, you can choose the virtual race option, gather your friends, and run 3k anytime during the month of May.
Don't forget to tag us on our socials!
How Did It All Start?
It began with one woman.
When Zainab ran in Afghanistan, she was met with resistance, insults, even stones thrown her way. Running, for her, was not just movement, it was defiance, freedom, and possibility. With no safe space to train, she ran in loops inside a small courtyard, again and again, holding onto a vision that one day women and men could stand side by side and run freely.
In 2015, that vision became real. Against all odds, she became the first Afghan woman to complete a marathon in Afghanistan, alongside two other women, quietly reshaping what was possible. What started as an act of courage grew into something larger, a community, a movement, a space where running became a way to reclaim voice, presence, and equality.
From that spirit, the Secret 3K was born. Inspired by the strength of Afghan women and the idea that something as simple as running should never have to be hidden, this global movement invites people everywhere to come together in solidarity. The “secret” is a reminder, of the risks many still face, and of the quiet strength it takes to move freely.
Today, as the Secret 3K continues under the care of 30 Birds Foundation, it comes full circle, returning to Afghan women, not just as a story that began with them, but as a movement that continues to walk, run, and grow alongside them.
