- ARAB NEWS
- 07 May 2024
Since 1975
RIYADH: “Saudi runners are friendly, and everyone I meet is pure and nice. I feel more lost in peace in Saudi Arabia than living in Japan or London.” said Sachiko Talbi.
Sachiko Talbi is a Japanese runner who has been a member of the Riyadh Urban Runners (RUR) since 2016. The movement group started with the Jeddah Running Collective (JRC), founded in 2013 by three expatriates who used to run in their country and wanted to keep running.
Riyadh Urban Runners was founded by two of JRC members, Duaa and Eslam, who moved to Riyadh in 2016 and now the founder is Amal Maghazil, who coaches every Monday.
Sachiko Talbi joined the Riyadh Urban Runners as soon as she moved to Saudi Arabia, so she’s been with the Riyadh Urban Runners for a year and a half. She started running marathons in 2018, but she says she’s been running the best since she came to Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh Urban Runners (RUR) is a group formed in 2016, Talbi explained why she decided to become a runner. “When I was about to turn 40, I was on the verge of a mid-life crisis. Until now, I had been walking towards my goals, but in the remaining half of my life, I felt like I was going backwards. I wondered if it was okay for me to stay like this. I wanted to change my lifestyle so that my mind and body would be healthy from now on.”
The Riyadh Runners Group trains three times a week. “I was able to quickly become friends with all the members, regardless of their age and background, and regardless of their level, there was an atmosphere of pure enjoyment of running,” said Talbi.
Talbi also said that she targets 100 to 150 kilometers so she can run half marathon distances anytime, and around 200 kilometers during marathon training.
“What I am most proud of in Saudi Arabia is that at this year’s Riyadh Marathon, I broke my half marathon personal best for the second month in a row. “The course of the Riyadh Marathon is undulating and not a monotonous course, so I ran as hard as I could for the last two kilometers when I knew I was on the verge of achieving my personal best,” she said.
“Running is a solitary sport, so it is important to connect with people to keep you motivated. That is why I try to run in groups as much as possible. I always tell myself to run,” Talbi told Arab News.
Wadi Hanifa is Talbi’s favorite running route. It has greenery, desert, and water (dams). Wadi Hanifa is one of Riyadh’s most popular picnic spots, frequented by many running groups. Certain road routes with straight-line distances of up to 10 km are very suitable if long distance runs are considered.
When I asked Talbi about the best time to run in Saudi Arabia, she gave me this answer. “The most suitable time for running in Saudi Arabia is 5 o’clock in the morning! It is said that the optimum temperature for running is around 10 degrees Celsius, but in Saudi Arabia, it is quite cold all year round. So for now, I run before the sun rises. Every Friday. I have a long run practice in the morning, and I am very impressed that everyone shows up on time.”
After Riyadh’s Urban Runners group run, Talbi looks forward to chatting with everyone while enjoying Saudi coffee and eating dates filled biscuits called “Ma’amoul”.
Running coach Noura Nour said: “Running for me is like meditation. Breathing and releasing stress. It is like dancing. It is beautiful.”
Talbi also mentioned the following. “I am delighted to hear that Haruki Murakami’s “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” is being regarded as a widely read book by Saudi runners. His profound insights and contemplations on running are likely to serve as sources of encouragement and guidance for these runners. Murakami’s works depict the exploration of the body and mind through running, prompting deep reflection on the joys, challenges, and connections to life that running brings.
The more you run, the more you can run—that’s one of the charms of running. I look forward to challenging the Tokyo Marathon in 2024 alongside my running companions, and I will continue to run with excitement!” Talbi informed Arab News.
