Riyadh: Every Wednesday, you can find a group of women near Wadi Hanifa pounding a path for anywhere between 4 and 8 km as the sounds of Fajr (early morning) prayers are heard in Riyadh and the sun is still submissive to the night sky.

People from all walks of life are brought together by the global running and jogging community known as Adidas Runners with the common goal of improving oneself.

Their women-only group provides a secure environment where members can encourage one another to realise their goals.

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Given the advantages to their health and the new friendships it fosters, the runners consider the 4 a.m. wake-up call to be a small price to pay for the experience.

The 31-year-old Asma Azhari has never thought of herself as being consistently athletic. She wanted to try everything and never committed to just one discipline, whether it was mindful yoga, swimming, or easygoing bike rides. She didn't learn about the Adidas Runners community until June 2021.

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She was intrigued by the idea of joining a running group for women only, but she found it difficult to commit at first.

She confessed, "I felt like dying." "It was my first run, and I immediately concluded that I wasn't suited for this sport. But after a few months, I gave it another shot and decided to stick with it, even though it was way outside of my comfort zone. I'm a runner now, and here I am," she told Arab News.

Azhari, who struggled to finish the 4K run when she first started, is currently preparing for her first 21K trail race. Next year, she plans to run the entire international marathon.

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She continued to attend each week because of the running group's supportive neighbourhood. "The people, the spirit, the energy, the commitment, and of course the love and support everyone is getting, all of these aspects helped to get me into running," she said. I really like it.

Running has helped her personally by establishing the foundation for discipline in many areas of her life, including work and family. Her physical and mental health have greatly benefited from it as well. Regardless of gender, age, or ethnicity, everyone should be able to participate in sports, she argued.

Hadeel Ashour, another participant, told Arab News: "I don't think that I would be as motivated and persistent in the sport as I am today if I started out running on my own in public."

Ashour, 23, had been physically active for years, but after learning about Adidas Runners a year ago, she realised how much her training complemented her cycling and CrossFit (interval training) activities.

I generally enjoy outdoor sports and activities that foster a sense of community, she declared. For me, running was a lovely fusion of these two things.

Ashour emphasised the mental benefits of the exercise, despite the fact that running has many health advantages, including better eating and sleeping habits.

Running has given her the ability to manage her anxiety, increase her patience, and establish consistency in many areas of her life.

"I started running at a time in my life when I was most exposed and insecure," she continued. I've been able to overcome these bad emotions and regain my confidence through running.

The team is working to establish Riyadh's first ever free 5K women's training programme, which will begin on October 22.

Ashour has higher goals now than when she originally planned to run in her first Riyadh 10K.

My current training objective is to compete in the Tuwaiq Hope Trail Race in November over the 20K distance. I intend to participate in full marathons and ultramarathons both domestically and abroad in the distant future and to contribute to the growth of the Riyadh community.

Ashour, like Azhari, found a place to belong within the running community, which altered her opinion of women who run in public.

I had the pleasure of meeting powerful and influential running companions who never ceased to encourage me to advance and test my limits, she continued.

"Although there are not many women runners, the presence and perseverance of the few makes a significant difference. When we run as one, women are unstoppable.

Nourah Alshehri, a 38-year-old club member, told Arab News: "I'm ecstatic for all the wonderful positive changes in my nation and the justice that women have attained in various fields.

"I consider myself extremely fortunate to have encountered fair rules and laws that ensure everyone's freedom without causing harm to anyone or anything."

On December 24, the first-ever women's-only race will be held in an effort to promote a secure and healthy running environment in Riyadh.