Marathon for the
Peace
The world's first marathon inside a prison where people in incarceration, victims, released individuals, and family members ran together.
We call it running to repair: every shared step is a distance closed.
March 22, 2019 · November 19, 2022
Number one in the world inside a prison
In the world
Intramural marathon with victims and people in detention
Editions
2019 · 2022
Under evaluation
Possible upcoming edition
Inclusive
By categories · with walk mode
The idea, briefly
A real marathon. Inside a prison.
After a series of Open House events at Batán Prison, Pampa came up with the idea of a "Marathon for Peace," inspired by a sporting event held in Corrientes that was participated in by the association Victims for Peace. But she didn't want to just copy the idea: at Liberté, the marathon had to serve something more than running — so that victims, people in prison, family members, and officials could all walk the same asphalt.
But first, we had to wait. When Pampa brought it up to Dr. Mario Juliano —already Liberté's godfather—, the judge was initially hesitant. "Let's see," he told him, and made him wait. Only after finishing the mural The Most Beautiful Mural in the World —another project that Pampa had also proposed—, Mario approached Pampa and, almost in a whisper, gave his approval.
The First Marathon for Peace was held in March 2019, inside the Penitentiary Unit No. 15 of Batán, using the streets of the internal bypass. The start was within the walls and the finish line was at the University Pastoral Community, where the closing ceremony and award presentation took place. The Marathoners Federation sent its officials to oversee the competition. There was live music, speakers, and many people running with donated shirts from the inspiring marathon.
The second edition was held on November 19, 2022, already with Liberté moved to its current Territory. The ceremonial acts took place at the cooperative, where the Punto de Paz restaurant was also awarded. As in 2019, people in prison, victims, released individuals, family members, professional marathon runners, and judicial officials participated together.
If it seems good to you, let's start organizing the marathon.
— Dr. Mario Juliano · Godfather of Liberté
Quick facts
The concept
Run to repair
The verb run is conjugated here in two senses at the same time: as body movement and as an act of repairing.
A marathon where physical performance is measured. A restorative act where another thing is measured: the capacity of victims, people in prison, released individuals, family members, and officials to step onto the same asphalt, cross the same finish line, and take photos together when they arrive.
Inclusion
Categories by physical performance — with walking mode. Everyone runs at their own level.
Meeting
Victims, people in prison, released individuals, family members, and officials running together without distinctions.
Repair
The street as a restorative tool: what the cell separates, shared asphalt brings back together.
The human hinge
The day Diana arrived in Batán
At the first Marathon for Peace, on March 22, 2019, Dr. Diana Márquez came. It was her first visit to Batán prison. There she met Liberté.
Three years later, she would become the co-creator of Restaurante Punto de Paz, the first restaurant in the world managed by people in prison. Today she is secretary of the Liberté Cooperative.
The marathon was the gateway. The alliance with Victims for Peace had already begun with the mural, but it was that day — March 22, 2019 — when Diana first crossed the walls of Batán and the bond that would later give rise to several shared chapters was woven — including the Punto de Paz Restaurant.
The two editions
Two starts. the same utopia.
Edition
March 22, 2019
UP15 Batán · 1st in the world
- Start and tour through the streets of the internal perimeter road of the Penitentiary
- Arrival at the University Pastoral Community — closing ceremony and awards
- Supervised by the male and female directors of the Marathon Runners Federation
- Donated shirts from the inspiring marathon — those who ran it keep them as treasures
- Live music and very excited speakers (especially the president of the Marathon Runners Federation)
- Categories by physical performance — some participated in walking mode
- Inauguration of the painting exhibition "Fall in Love if You Can" by the artist Betina Ferrara
- First visit to Batán by Dr. Diana Márquez
Edition
November 19, 2022
Liberty Territory · Mar del Plata
- Organized by Liberté and Victims for Peace
- Start and finish within the current territory of the cooperative
- Protocolo acts at the cooperative institution
- Award to Restaurante Punto de Paz, another milestone in the same league
- It maintained the characteristics of the first: professional marathon runners, people in prison, victims, released individuals, and family members running together and united.
- Professional oversight · categories · walking mode
Those who run with us
The marathon isn't run alone
Victims for Peace
Co-organizer from the very beginning. Founded by Judge Mario Juliano. Brought the victims' perspective and the network that made the gathering possible.
Marathon Runners Federation
Their executives supervised both editions, adding sporting rigor to an unprecedented marathon due to its human composition.
Judicial Power
Judicial officials ran and participated in the ceremonial events in both editions.
Penitentiary Service
Staff from UP15 joining the race on equal footing with those running.
"The distance between a victim and a person in jail is sometimes just 21 kilometers straight line. After that, it’s no longer the same distance."
Other milestones along the same path
What the marathon opened
Punto de Paz Restaurant
The world's first restaurant managed by people in prison. Diana Márquez was a co-creator — and it all started at the first marathon.
The Most Beautiful Mural in the World
Inaugurated on December 19, 2019, on the wall of the passageway that the workers of Liberté saw every day. Another milestone from the same period. Landing in preparation.
Do you want to know the full story?
How the idea was born, the two starts, the excited speakers and orators, Diana Márquez's first visit to Batán, and everything that marathon opened up for Liberté — all in a single read.