In the pleasant surroundings of Wadi Hanifa Park near Riyadh, a group of women gather every Wednesday before sunrise to run 4 to 8 kilometers.
According to Arab News, these women belonging to unique fields arrive from different areas of Riyadh for the purpose of jogging at this spacious place before the Fajr call to prayer.
The few women who attend this group for the physical health benefits and camaraderie say the encouragement and support they all get here helps them run.
Among the group, 31-year-old Asma Azhari has never considered herself a regular athlete. She was previously committed to nothing but yoga for mindfulness and swimming for physical exercise.
She said that now I started this exercise with a 4 km run, now she is preparing for a 21 km marathon and plans to participate in an international marathon next year.
This morning exercise and jogging has made him disciplined which has been very beneficial. All this is very beneficial for physical and mental health as well.
He said that sports and physical exercise should be accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, age and race.
Another member of the group, 23-year-old Hadeel Ashoor, said, "I don't think I would be able to persevere with the same motivation I feel here today if I started running on my own in public."
Having been physically active for many years, I love outdoor sports and activities in general, running was a beautiful combination of both and a special way of connecting with the community,” added Hadeel Ashour.
Talking about joining the group, he said that this exercise leads to better sleep, eating habits and other benefits along with increasing mental capacity.
It has helped me develop consistency, anxiety and patience in many aspects of life.
I started jogging and running at a point in my life when I was weak and lacking in confidence. After participating in the race, I found freedom from these negative feelings and regained my confidence.
It has been a pleasure to meet strong and influential fellow runners who have never let me down to push forward and explore my limits,” he added.
Although the number of women runners is not that many, the presence and consistency of a few makes a big difference. When we run together, we get more motivated.
Club member Noora Al-Shahri, 38, said, "I am happy to see all the amazing positive changes happening in my country and achieving goals for women in various fields."
