Tarra Williamson's 350km run for Secret 3K

Jeff Green | Oct 25, 2023

Harowsmith's Tara Williamson is known for her work with the Frontenac Farmers Market and her home based businesses, but she has an altogether different role with an organisation called Secret3K.

The organisation got its name, and mission, from a secret gener inclusive marathon that took place in Afghanistan in 2015. The marathon was a secret because it was illegal for women to run outside and for women to participate in sports with men. In that race, an Afghani woman named Zainab, and two other women (one from Canada and one from the UK) completed the race.

Their story inspired the establishment of Secret3K to raise awareness and funds through 3 kilometre runs that take place each year on International Women's Day.

The runs are in person and virtual, and all are invited to participate, and register at Secret3K.com.

Tarra has a voluntary position with Secret3K as a national co-director and race director.

She decided a few months ago that she wanted to do something as an added event to support Secret3K and last week she embarked on a 7 day, 350 run/walk from her home in Harrowsmith up the K&P trail to Calabogie, to Armprior on the Ottawa Valley Trail, over to Smiths Falls, and along the Rideau and Cataraqui Trail back to Harrowsmith.

The trek is part of her training for the New York City Marathon (a 42 kilometre run), which she intends to run next year.

As she was about to set out on the first day of her adventure, last Wednesday (October 18) when she was planning to travel 50 kilometres from Harrowsmith to Clarendon Station, she said that she had never gone that distance.

“I haven't run a marathon either, yet” she said, “but I am going to be walking as well as running so I hope it is ok.”

350 kilometres is over 8 marathons, and traveling that distance on foot, running or walking, in seven days is a major enterprise to be sure.

Part of Tarra's goal was to emphasize the beauty and variety of the Eastern Ontario trail system, and staying at some of the trailside accommodations and eating at local restaurants was part of that. On her first day she stayed at the newly renovated Clarendon Station Vacation Home, which has been restored and upgraded by Noel Bateman of Parham.

As the only Frontenac County station of the former K&P rail line that is still standing, it is a major landmark on the trail.

As she set off, she said she wasn't really sure how it would all work out, but as she has reported on her Instagram feed, the going was pretty rough for the first two days, especially day 2 from Clarendon to Calabogie, but by Tuesday of this week she was headed home on the Cataraqui Trail, accompanied by her dog for the final leg.

For further information, see Tarra Williamson on Instagram.