We have recently entered the 2nd half of the month of Ramadan. I bet by this time, most of us are already used to the fasting schedule, and this is actually the perfect time for you to include running or training for your next full marathon in your daily activities.
So before we continue, here’s a brief explanation of what Ramadan is for all our non-muslim friends.
Muslims abstain themselves from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk for the entire month of Ramadan. They fast, intending to be closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate. The daily fast begins immediately after the pre-dawn meal of Sahur and it continues during the daylight hours, ending with sunset with the evening meal of iftar.
So for those of you who are training for a marathon or wish to run daily in Ramadan, here are some tips for you!
Best Time to Run
- Pre-iftar run – Set aside 1 hour right before breaking fast
- Late night run – Run after you’ve done your late-night prayers and just in time when the food has digested.
There are days when you feel like you are high on energy and might probably go for a longer running session. But there also days when you feel low on energy. Those days, go for a short and slow run.
Hydrate Yourself As Much As You Can
- Drink lots of water during sahur that could last you throughout your day and your pre-iftar run.
- Similarly, drink lots of water during iftar too. If you plan to go for a run after the late-night prayers, remember to hydrate yourself before and after your run.
Take It Easy
- Don’t do your running sessions on strenuous pathways which includes a lot of uphill. Try to run on a flat surface route as this will not be too taxing on your body while fasting
- Also, take a break once in a while during your run.
