Ramadan in the UAE: why this group of Christians runs from one mosque to another after iftar – News
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For a dozen years, a group of Christian runners has maintained the tradition of running from one mosque to another after iftar. Members come and go, but the goals remain the same: to immerse themselves in the culture of the United Arab Emirates and be inspired by the Islamic faith of self-discipline, sacrifice and piety.
The annual event is called RUNMadan Challenge, organized by Filipino Runners UAE (FRU), where participants go to more than 200 mosques in Dubai and neighboring emirates to run more than 200 kilometers (for an average of seven mosques and seven kilometers daily) throughout the world. holy month
“Our goal is to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice and perseverance, values that are amplified during Ramadan,” Ross Pisuena, founder of RUNMadan Challenge, told Khaleej Times. “We also aim to lead a healthy lifestyle and make more friends through running,” he added.
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Pisuena, 56, a devout Catholic, came up with the idea of running after sunset in July 2012. He and his daughter, Bea, initially completed a 5-kilometer loop around three mosques in the Muhaisnah 2 area of Dubai. Other family members joined the father-daughter duo; Then, some friends also participated in the race.
Learning about life in Dubai
The following year, RUNMadan was born when more FRU friends joined and the group made an open invitation on Facebook about the race. “It was our way of familiarizing new expats about life in Dubai during Ramadan. Visiting mosques helped us learn more about Muslim culture and tradition, as well as architecture,” said Pisuena, an architect by profession.
Among the pioneers who signed up for Ramadan 2013 was Oliva ‘Bam’ Matol, now 64 years old and working as an assistant teacher. She is the highest ranking member of the group and leads the group during initiation each year.
“A friend who was part of the Nike running club invited me to join RUNmadan. I joined because I have always loved running and everything related to fitness; Additionally, I wanted to maximize my free time due to reduced work hours,” Matol said.
“I have never missed a single RUNMadan since 2013, I have made many friends and I have also learned a lot about the mosques, not only the names but also the architecture. But more than that, I have always been amazed at how disciplined and focused Muslims are in the mosque,” he added.
Open to all runners
Matol said the group has grown exponentially over the years and the runners are not only Filipinos but also Russians, British, Americans, Arabs, Indians and Pakistanis. The participants also have different abilities and ages: from 10 to over 60 years old.
RUNmadan was unceremoniously cut short in 2020 due to the global pandemic, but the group returned the following year. In 2022, the challenge will be greater than ever. Last year, Pisuena designed a RUNMadan passport (similar to the popular Dubai Expo passport) that is given to each participant to track their daily running.
“Participants are not required to run every day, but those who complete the month-long running challenge are elevated to the rank of ‘elite runners,'” Pisuena said.
Forging bonds between members
RUNMadan is not only about living a healthy lifestyle, but also about forging bonds between members and strengthening the relationship between friends, family and between husbands and wives, as in the case of Mary Hill Campos, 34, and her husband of 43 years. , Antonio.
Campos joined the group in 2022 and said she is amazed at how everything motivates and inspires each other. “The group is also well organized. We do not crowd the streets because we have efficient marshals and we meet based on our running skills, from beginners to intermediate and fast runners,” she added.
This year, more than 100 runners started RUNMadan in Al Jaffiliya on Monday, March 11, followed by a seven-kilometer run in Karama on Tuesday. The group is also planning an excursion to Ras Al Khaimah on April 6 and 7, before the end of Ramadan.
How to join?
Those who are interested in joining RUNMadan can check their official social media account for more details.
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