CAIRO: Young Egyptians are once again organizing on social media and taking to the streets of Cairo by the hundreds every Friday, not to protest injustice or clash with police, but to enjoy long runs through one of the world’s most crowded and chaotic cities.

On a recent Friday morning around 300 young people gathered at a central square, a small fraction of the 2,500 that had signed up for the event on Facebook, but a reasonable showing for an event held at 7 a.m. on a weekend.

Organizers with bullhorns led the crowd of young men and women — many wearing headscarves — in a warm-up, and then they took off, flooding a four-lane road and occasionally parting before honking taxis.

Cairo, a city of some 20 million people packed onto the banks of the Nile, with few green spaces and no jogging paths, is an unlikely venue for distance running.

The streets are jammed at nearly all hours. Anyone who runs in Cairo can expect stares and gentle mocking, and women must contend with leering, lewdness and occasional unwanted touching.

Despite all the obstacles, young Egyptians have launched several popular running clubs over the past two years. A half-marathon this weekend drew thousands of runners, and more than 200 volunteers deftly guided the runners through traffic circles and onto and off of overpasses.