Dubai’s vibrant fitness culture shines brightly each year with the Dubai Fitness Challenge, also called Dubai 30X30. This month-long event unites the city in prioritizing health and wellness.
As the highly anticipated Dubai Run 2024 approaches, when Sheikh Zayed Road turns into a massive running track, we spoke to four inspiring women whose unique running journeys reflect this sport’s power.
Beyond Physical Fitness
For these UAE-based women, running isn’t just about staying fit. It’s a transformative experience that builds mental resilience, fosters personal freedom, and provides empowerment.
From taking their first hesitant steps to crossing ultra-marathon finish lines, these women share how running has redefined their lives. Dubai’s safe and supportive environment plays a vital role in nurturing their growth, making it an ideal place for runners of all levels.
From Burnout to Breakthrough
British expat Jola Chudy, in her 40s and the founder of a PR agency, didn’t always consider herself a runner. In 2019, balancing the demands of her role as an editor-in-chief left her feeling burned out. Desperate for relief, she started light jogging. “At first, it was hard. I could barely manage a couple of kilometers,” she recalls. But what began as a coping mechanism turned into a life-changing journey. Today, Jola is a dedicated ultramarathon runner and the Middle East Community Manager for ASICS FrontRunner, leading a group of 75 ambassadors.
Jola’s passion for running has taken her to extraordinary places, including the grueling Marathon des Sables, a 252-kilometer race through the Sahara Desert. “Surviving on minimal supplies in searing heat puts life’s everyday stresses into perspective,” she says. Her experiences have taught her resilience and an appreciation for simplicity. Even a casual run along Kite Beach with friends leaves her feeling rejuvenated.
For Jola, running is about much more than fitness. It’s empowerment. “As women, we don’t need permission to feel strong,” she says. Her adventures remind her of her inherent strength and inspire creativity. Now in her mid-40s, Jola continues to use running as an anchor, helping her feel healthy, confident, and unstoppable.
Taking Control Through Running
For Emirati triathlete Hana Al Nabulsi, running represents freedom and control. Introduced to running at a young age, albeit reluctantly, Hana quickly discovered its power. “Running gave me a rare sense of control over my life,” she says. Nicknamed “Bambi legs” for her long strides, Hana found joy and therapy in her runs. She calls it “a way to take life into my own hands.”
As a member of the UAE National Triathlon Team, Hana thrives on the challenges of being an Arab woman in sports. “There’s pressure to prove yourself, but that’s what drives me,” she says. Supported by her family and teammates, Hana embraces every challenge as an opportunity to grow.
For Hana, running is deeply liberating. “Some people find freedom in boxing; I find it in running,” she shares. Whether sprinting through speed work or enjoying a long-distance run, Hana sees running as a source of empowerment and expression.
Healing Through Movement
Valérie Fagerholt-Ramadan, a 49-year-old retail manager and mother, has been running since her teenage years in Denmark. Over the decades, running has been her go-to activity for fitness, mental clarity, and emotional resilience. During a difficult divorce, running became her sanctuary. “Every morning, I’d run after dropping my kids off. Sometimes I laughed, sometimes I cried. Running kept me sane,” she recalls.
Valérie emphasizes running’s therapeutic benefits, saying it helps her process emotions and build resilience. Even in less welcoming environments, like Lebanon, where she received stares for running publicly, Valérie persisted. In Dubai, however, she feels completely supported. “There’s great respect for sporty people here, regardless of gender,” she says.
Now in her late 40s, Valérie appreciates running even more. “Some days, I feel like I’m flying; other days, my legs feel heavy. But I’ve learned how to fuel my body and recover properly,” she shares. Running continues to teach her patience and persistence, offering a sense of accomplishment and balance in her life.
A Lifelong Runner’s Joy
Palestinian Canadian Khulood Ibrahim, a digital marketeer born and raised in the UAE, discovered her love for running during the pandemic. “I’ve been running for a decade, but consistently for the last four years,” she explains. The isolation of COVID-19 brought her back to running, which quickly became her mental health anchor. “It’s like an addiction. The endorphins make me so happy,” she says. Running also improves her sleep and keeps her day structured.
Khulood appreciates Dubai’s supportive atmosphere, where runners can train safely. As a life coach, she inspires others by showing how running fits into a busy lifestyle. “Running has become a necessary part of my day,” she adds, emphasizing how it enhances her mental clarity and physical well-being.
Running as Empowerment
As Dubai Run 2024 approaches, these women’s stories serve as a testament to the transformative power of running. Beyond physical fitness, it offers freedom, mental clarity, and empowerment. Dubai’s supportive environment continues to inspire runners of all levels, making the city a global hub for health and wellness.
From the beginner’s first strides to the experienced ultra-marathoner’s finish line, running remains a universal language of strength, resilience, and joy.
