Riyadh Road Runners - is anyone here a member?

musicman wrote:

You mean the "Weebee's"?

That wobble but don't fall down? No thats weebles

gowiththeflowUK wrote:

Good luck with your transfer to Riyadh, guess we will see you soon.

Thanks a lot gowiththeflowUK. Yup, hopefully would be there on a visit visa in three weeks time, which would be converted into Iqama (in a week's time) once I land and then the sponsor would initiate the process of Family visa which should take another 4-6 weeks.

Well those are the timelines the employer's HR division is suggesting.....not too sure though since they initially said I'd be there in mid October.

I jog regularly but am not into sprints and stuff. Just wondering if cycling to work is a norm, if I find an apartment in close proximity of my work place?

Cycling to work would be great as long as your workplace is nearby cos in the summer your rims will probably melt....

Cycling to work is equivalent to a death wish in Riyadh.

MaserMan wrote:

Cycling to work is equivalent to a death wish in Riyadh.

That's an understatement!  Even DRIVING to work is a death wish!

Seriously, I've been her 14 mos. and have only ONCE seen a guy riding a bicycle and I did a double-take, thinking, of course, that he had a DEATH WISH!

Thats only if you have to pedal on the highways. Back streets are kool!

hi gowiththeflowUK - I made 8km run before, but that was sometime ago...let me know when and where and may be i can practice in advance.
Thank s for sharing.

There used to be a time in my life, when I was a boy scout, in the 60s when we walked 24 km in the rain, up and down mountains in the cool and plush tea growing Central Hills of Sri Lanka (Ceylon then)

I remember the days walking to and from school knee deep in snow uphill bothways.

CivEngr wrote:

I remember the days walking to and from school knee deep in snow uphill bothways.

Yep... and did your homework by the light of the burning fireplace, writing on the back of an old iron shovel with a burnt ember.

OOpssss.. that was Abe Lincoln

and admitting that you were the one who chopped the apple tree down...?

5K to 10?! That's a lot.

a lot of what? sand?

aliabadreldin wrote:

hi gowiththeflowUK - I made 8km run before, but that was sometime ago...let me know when and where and may be i can practice in advance.
Thank s for sharing.

Hi, here is the link to their website:

runninginriyadh.com

The next run is a 10k this weekend.  They have regular runs, so check out the run calendar or contact them.  I train everyday so that I am always prepared for a run - it is very rewarding to achieve goals set (and for the jokers in the group, I am not now talking football)!  Plus, if you love your food (like me) it keeps the weight down whilst still allowing you to indulge a little every now and again.

aliabadreldin wrote:

hi gowiththeflowUK - I made 8km run before, but that was sometime ago...let me know when and where and may be i can practice in advance.
Thank s for sharing.

Sorry Alibadreldin, where are my manners!  Welcome to the forum, I haven/t seen you here before and see from your profile you are new to the blog and the Country.  I hope you have fun and lots of useful information from our group.  GWTF

Just to share with the group that I achieved my first 10k run this weekend .  It was a hard run for me but I mananged it and am very glad it is over .

I have another challenge upon me, with a 15k run this weekend coming up !  Will need a lot of encouragement and courage for that one - am dreading it!  I hope it will be a lot cooler by 4pm when that race starts as 30 odd degrees is just too hot to be running in!

Will anyone else be joining in?  It's with the Riyadh Road Runners - come on, it could be fun

I saw you at the end of the 10k - 15k, I'll be at the end with the stretcher and oxygen bottle.

Good luck

Hehe, you guys make me laugh, thanks for adding some humour to a usually dreary day.
How would the public in Olaya district (which is where I live) react to a lady running in an Abaya?
Oh, hold on...THAT'S INSANE!

So I'll have to wait until we've moved into a COMPOUND to do such things...
Or anyone else have a better idea? I'd love to start jogging.

Malujani wrote:

Hehe, you guys make me laugh, thanks for adding some humour to a usually dreary day.
How would the public in Olaya district (which is where I live) react to a lady running in an Abaya?
Oh, hold on...THAT'S INSANE!

So I'll have to wait until we've moved into a COMPOUND to do such things...
Or anyone else have a better idea? I'd love to start jogging.

Hi Malujani and welcome to the forum!  You can jog in the Diplomatic Quarter with no interference.

Malujani, there's a nice park/path that goes all around the DQ, rally nice to jog there. I can give directions if needed.

Malujani wrote:

Hehe, you guys make me laugh, thanks for adding some humour to a usually dreary day.
How would the public in Olaya district (which is where I live) react to a lady running in an Abaya?
Oh, hold on...THAT'S INSANE!

So I'll have to wait until we've moved into a COMPOUND to do such things...
Or anyone else have a better idea? I'd love to start jogging.

Hey, a Saffie - welcome to this forum and to the Kingdom, what part of SA?  My husband is from Jozi.  Yes, come jogging/running with us, it's fun!  It will be interesting to hear how you settle into the Kingdom after 4 years in the ME.  Are you planning to move onto a Compound then?  Maybe if you can pursue your photography interests, we could muster up a Westerners Expo of photographic works as there are a few of you who are now excelling in photography since being in KSA.

Maybe I will see you hitting the Compounds one day soon?

daredevil wrote:

I'd also like to know if its ok for a guy to jog in a pair of shorts on a public street or is it going to attract a lot of unwanted attraction?

You know what bud, I asked my students in class whether it was okay - they are devout Muslim's with a modern take on culture etc.. They told me THEY go running around their neighbourhoods all the time.

I asked them is okay for me? 'YES TEACHER'

I just stick to the quiet places away from people and go out at night when it's cooler anyhoo. Then again there's no Mutawa around here!

I'll do it until i get asked to stop.

Oh and Gowiththeflow,

My friend from Al Yamamah compound is a member. If you need any info gimme a PM and I'll get in touch with him

Alliecat wrote:

Malujani wrote:

Hehe, you guys make me laugh, thanks for adding some humour to a usually dreary day.
How would the public in Olaya district (which is where I live) react to a lady running in an Abaya?
Oh, hold on...THAT'S INSANE!

So I'll have to wait until we've moved into a COMPOUND to do such things...
Or anyone else have a better idea? I'd love to start jogging.

Hi Malujani and welcome to the forum!  You can jog in the Diplomatic Quarter with no interference.

Hi Alliecat!  Jog in DQ with running shorts?  Or, should I still consider wearing long shorts or running pants?

DesertRunner wrote:

Alliecat wrote:

Malujani wrote:

Hehe, you guys make me laugh, thanks for adding some humour to a usually dreary day.
How would the public in Olaya district (which is where I live) react to a lady running in an Abaya?
Oh, hold on...THAT'S INSANE!

So I'll have to wait until we've moved into a COMPOUND to do such things...
Or anyone else have a better idea? I'd love to start jogging.

Hi Malujani and welcome to the forum!  You can jog in the Diplomatic Quarter with no interference.

Hi Alliecat!  Jog in DQ with running shorts?  Or, should I still consider wearing long shorts or running pants?

@Malujani are you still around?  Did you ever take up running in your abaya?  That would make an interesting sight    I would imagine people would wonder what or who you are running from, just don't see people rushing around here let alone running

@DesertRunner well, have you done the DQ run in running shorts yet?

Hi guys,
I'll be arriving in Riyadh in the coming months. I run about 30km per week 10km every 2 or 3 days. Who would be ready to join me for some running outside because I don't think sportcenter are the best way to train for joggers.

Cheers,
Greg

Riyadh is a great place for joggers, its flat and dry but you have to wait till after the sun set..

i'm doing 10 per day , 6 days a week.. when you get here hit me up and we can meet..