{"id":84761,"date":"2024-03-12T15:22:31","date_gmt":"2024-03-12T15:22:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=84761"},"modified":"2024-03-12T15:22:33","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T15:22:33","slug":"were-not-alone-in-this-first-muslim-mens-running-group-set-up-in-cardiff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2024\/03\/12\/were-not-alone-in-this-first-muslim-mens-running-group-set-up-in-cardiff\/","title":{"rendered":"‘We\u2019re not alone in this’: First Muslim men\u2019s running group set up in Cardiff"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Participants travel from as far as the Rhondda to join the group<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

CARDIFF\u2019S first Muslim men\u2019s running group has been set up after the founders noticed a lack of diversity in similar groups in the area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey get connected with people who they\u2019ve never met who are similar to them, and are like OK we\u2019re not alone in this,\u201d said Hanan Jamil, 42, co-founder of Cardiff Muslim Runners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their weekly runs are timed to ensure that they do not clash with the five daily prayers which take place at specific times for Muslims. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Jamil said: \u201cAdaptability is key. Other running groups won\u2019t appreciate or understand that. And that\u2019s no fault of their own, but at least then from our faith background, we\u2019re tailoring it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They recite prayers at the beginning of their sessions which take place every Sunday according to Michael Clarke, 34, co-founder of the group. He said that the group offered spiritual benefits as well as the physical benefits of improving fitness.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardiff Muslim Runners has had up to 18 people join sessions, and during their first, on January 21 two people ran their first 5k, said Mr Clarke.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve all been so welcoming,\u201d said Chris Harding, a recent convert to Islam who travels from Ystrad Mynach every week to attend the runs which start at Penylan Library in Roath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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