noon, the Middle East’s homegrown online marketplace, caught up with Saudi Arabia’s first female running collective, the Riyadh Urban Runners (RUR), as part of the noon | women series, which recognizes extraordinary women from the region.
RUR is a group of women who have taken hanging out with their friends to a whole new level. At their weekly meet-ups in the Kingdom’s capital city, members spend time getting their minds and bodies healthy through group running sessions.
Running at least once or twice a week all year round, RUR takes to the streets later in the evening during the hotter months to avoid the scorching daytime temperatures. During cooler times, the women raise their heart rates during the day, taking in the sights of their city as they pound the pavement.
Gearing up for a big run is easier for the women than hitting a local gym, since they can just add trainers, RUR belts, Nike hijabs and wireless headphones to their traditional abayas and go.
“Yalla Run” is their motto.
The reaction to the collective has been resoundingly positive from both men and women. Women have been encouraged to join the weekly meet-ups, while men often encourage them with words like, “keep going!”. The team is looking to expand into other cities in the Kingdom over the coming year and will also welcome a male-RUR group to Riyadh soon.
The noon | women series has been developed to shed light on the incredible female talent driving change across the region, by telling the stories of these unsung heroes.
