By Amber Ammouche
In case you haven’t noticed, run clubs are having a moment. If you go looking you’ll find a run club for everyone. And now Melbourne has one for Muslims.
The Muslim Melbourne Run Club (MMRC) was founded right here in the West by young Iraqi women Noor Aljawahiri, Dalya Alaraji and Noor Hassin.
MMRC is a run club for folk who share the same faith and enjoy meeting like-minded people while keeping fit. The group meets every Sunday at different locations for a 5km run followed by coffee and mingling. Whether you’re trying for a new ‘personal best’ or haven’t run since primary school, all paces are welcome.
The club began after Noor Aljawahiri and Dalya Alaraji both moved to Melbourne from small towns. They felt alone in the big city and were craving a sense of community with like-minded people. Noor Hassin grew up in Melbourne around western culture and customs. The three women met by chance at a gathering hosted by the Iraqi Australian Cultural Group in Melbourne. They bonded over the shared trials and tribulations of being young Muslims in the big city, and as hours passed they brainstormed ideas to grow community but dismissed many of them.
Sure, there are lectures at mosques and community centres, but they wanted to create something different. Eventually a run club for Muslims crossed their minds. A regular, accessible space where young adults can prioritise their physical health while building meaningful friendships with others who share similar values and life experiences, in a relaxed and welcoming environment. This was their major ‘aha’ moment.
Many cups of tea later, and after merging Instagram pages, MMRC was born. Currently, there are over 900 members, thousands of Instagram followers and the first launch of MMRC merchandise.
MMRC is grounded in Islamic values like ihsan (excellence) which means striving to better ourselves in every aspect of our lives. Another is amnanah (trust), recognising that our bodies are a trust from Allah (God) and that caring for them is a form of gratitude and worship.
Many of those in the group come from immigrant backgrounds where organised sports or recreational running are uncommon or a privilege. Older generations have been focused on building new lives in Australia, hoping for a better future for their children. They’ve also had to face other challenges such as language barriers and long work hours, but thanks to their sacrifices their children can make health and fitness a part of everyday life.
“While we’re united by a shared faith, our members come from a variety of ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds. The club even adjusts their running schedules during Ramadan, celebrating Eid with friends and an environment where no one feels like the odd one out,” say the founders.
The weekly runs are less than 5 kms to cater for all fitness levels and paces, but there is also an MMRC sub-group for more seasoned runners taking on longer distances and marathons.
As MMRC grows, the aim is to register as an official group for Melbourne run events.
To join just click their Instagram bio @muslimmelbournerunclub and fill out the membership form.
“We’re so proud to call Melbourne home and grateful to be contributing to the city’s vibrant, diverse community by creating another space where people feel connected, active, and can have a true sense of belonging,” say the women.
The future for MMRC is a bright one and the club plans hosting brunches in partnerships with local cafes, holding picnics and barbecues, and collaborating with businesses to host fitness activities such as boxing and Pilates.
