Whereas the world has a lot to supply so many people, it may be straightforward to neglect what so many people have taken from them. It may also be straightforward to neglect what a blessing one thing so simple as a weekly future really is. Not everybody can lace up their sneakers and head out to their favourite path, highway, or mountain peak for a weekly journey. It’s vital to acknowledge and be glad about one thing as seemingly easy as being free to run.
Hasina, Fatima, and Zahra, three Afghan girls, have been lucky sufficient to flee their nation after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, which resulted in girls dropping most of their freedoms — together with their freedom to take part in sports activities. These three girls got here to Canada and the US. In November 2023, they ran the New York Metropolis Marathon, with the objective of connecting with others and sharing their tales, in hopes of giving different Afghan girls hope that they, too, will run once more sometime.
Free to Run’s (left to proper) Fatima, Hasina and Zahra on the 2023 New York Metropolis Marathon. All pictures: Free to Run
Because of the group Free to Run, a world of alternatives has been opened as much as these girls, and so they have been given entry to life-changing actions. Free to Run is a non-profit group that helps girls and ladies dwelling in areas of battle — Iraq and Afghanistan — by serving to them achieve entry to journey sports activities and different types of assist.
We had the chance to speak with Hasina and Zahra following their participation within the New York Metropolis Marathon, each of whom shared their experiences.
After we chatted with Hasina, she expressed a lot gratitude for her alternative to take part within the race. She highlighted that she by no means felt alone whereas she ran, which was new for her. She defined that in Afghanistan when she ran, there was typically nobody round, however in New York Metropolis, there have been at all times individuals in entrance of, behind, and subsequent to her, which was uplifting and gratifying.
Hasina operating in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Hasina had a message for others who’ve the possibility to be part of one thing like Free to Run: “If the chance comes, take it as whether it is gold as a result of you could discover different alternatives as nicely, however they might not come very quickly to you. So, if the chance comes, by no means say no.”
She defined that whereas she was not thinking about operating initially, a buddy instructed her about Free to Run, and it piqued her curiosity. On the time, she didn’t understand how life-changing it could be for her.
Hasina is particularly grateful now, as girls nonetheless dwelling in Afghanistan can not run, work, or pursue schooling. She strongly needs to thrive in Canada. She left us with a message for ladies and ladies who’re dwelling lives of restriction: “You need to be courageous. Be robust and by no means lose yourselves. Even in a tough state of affairs, simply be courageous and be robust and sooner or later, the solar will shine on you.”
We additionally chatted with Zahra and have been equally touched by the insights she shared. One factor that basically stood out through the dialog with Zahra, was the constructive affect she perceived on her psychological well being after operating the marathon. She defined that whereas it was a significant problem — bodily, mentally, and logistically — it modified her for the higher.
When Zahra left Afghanistan with the U.S. army, as they pulled out in 2021, she had no concept what was forward of her. She didn’t know when and if she would communicate to or see her household once more. She positively didn’t know that operating could be one of many issues that might maintain her motivated to remain working laborious and dwelling life the very best she may in another country.
She instructed us that operating has helped her to be stronger. She stated it has mentally ready her to be a fighter and to face up and lift her voice for the group she needed to go away behind. She expressed unhappiness for all the ladies in Afghanistan who shouldn’t have a voice and who’ve so little freedom.
Zahra, again in Afghanistan.
Zahra is a college pupil in Arizona and has made it some extent to share what is going on in Afghanistan with the world. She felt she may do this by coaching for and operating the New York Metropolis Marathon with the group Free to Run.
It was not straightforward for her. She skilled for 3 months whereas she was additionally engaged on her immigration course of and learning. She felt that coaching helped her to keep up a constructive outlook on life.
She expressed ideas of self-doubt, fearful that she didn’t have what it took to be a voice for her group. Regardless of the challenges, she knew that she wanted to do it for all the ladies who couldn’t run, or pursue different ambitions.
In the course of the marathon, she struggled terribly with swollen toes and the final 10 kilometers have been extraordinarily laborious. Bodily, she needed to surrender, however she knew she wouldn’t.
Zahra stated, “After I was operating, I used to be feeling constructive about my state of affairs, that I may do one thing, a minimum of for my group, and in addition for ladies in Afghanistan. So I used to be not giving up.”
So, she stored going and completed with satisfaction. That is what she needed to say about how she felt on the end: “There was a lot peace. So many individuals have been tremendous excited they completed it, and I used to be very silent and humble.”
Zahra shared that her father was one in every of her largest cheerleaders firstly of her operating journey: “My dad began operating with me, he inspired me to run with him and I didn’t even know what operating was. I used to be 13 years previous and I didn’t know that ladies may run on the streets, however he inspired me. He took me out of the home and stated, ‘Let’s do that.’”
Whereas one thing like this can be a typical and valued expertise in international locations just like the U.S. or Canada, experiencing this as a younger lady in Afghanistan modified her life.
Free to Run’s (left to proper) Zahra, Hasina, Fatima on the 2023 New York Metropolis Marathon expo.
Working a marathon is usually a life-changing expertise for anybody, no matter age, measurement, ethnicity, or background. By way of operating, individuals can profoundly affect their very own lives, the lives of these round them, and even these far-off. That is all true for Zahra, Fatima, and Hasina.
A closing message Zahra left us with was this:
“On the finish of the day, we’re all human beings, and all of us have the identical blood, and we are able to all share one language … love.”
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