The Treadmill: A Step Toward Achievements – Part 2 of 2

The winter of 2006 arrived, bringing with it cold weather, and it was no longer possible to play basketball outdoors as I had done in the summer, So I started thinking about my options for maintaining the progress I’d made over the summer. I decided to step up my workouts at the gym; that seemed like the best choice during Amman’s cold winter. I started by walking on the treadmill, and soon that walking turned into a jog. Little by little, the time I spent jogging increased until I was jogging the entire time. My speed and endurance improved, and I was running at a speed of twelve kilometers per hour—all on the treadmill. In November of that year, I ran my first 10 kilometers nonstop—also on the treadmill. That determination made a huge difference.

I loved running and adored the way it transformed my outward appearance, which reflected the peace and beauty within me. I loved the cheerful spirit that had returned to me, and I adored the self-confidence that I had bid farewell to many years ago—and now it had returned to fill every drop of my blood. I decided that I would keep running, and since I was Run running on the treadmill, I started watching movies while running to take my mind off the physical exhaustion I was trying so hard to ignore. I even remember running for an hour and a half without stopping while watching the most exciting and suspenseful movies, and I kept it up until I recorded Race half Marathon The Dead Sea in April 2007.

Even though it was the first official race I’d ever run, and the longest distance I’d previously run on a treadmill was thirteen kilometers, I finished the race among the first fifty runners to cross the finish line, out of about five hundred and fifty participants. I was overjoyed to see that what I had been striving for had come true, and as a result of that race, I decided I wanted to continue running. I was truly grateful for the treadmill.

I put on my running shoes and started running down the street. I began running in the neighborhood where I live, then in the neighboring neighborhoods, and then my legs started taking me to places farther away. I really enjoyed myself every time I went for a run, as I got to see places I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.

Running has become my way of exploring the sights of any country I visit. I run at least once a week for fifteen to twenty kilometers to see neighborhoods and alleys I would never have reached if I weren’t running. I take photos here and there and collect tourist memories that will stay with me forever. 

In May 2013, I was preparing for my college exams, and I isolated myself in an unoccupied apartment so I could focus on studying. I didn’t stop studying except to eat or go to the gym, Due to the intensity of my workouts, one day I performed an exercise incorrectly, which led to a severe injury in my lower back. I saw a doctor, and was diagnosed with a herniated disc in my lower back. It still plagues me to this day; the pain intensifies on cold winter days, preventing me from exercising and causing me to gain about seven kilograms a year. I lose that weight by summer, when the pain eases thanks to the warmer weather.

As the saying goes, “Every cloud has a silver lining.” That injury prompted me to look for a new alternative so I could continue exercising. Swimming was the perfect choice—it allowed me to feel completely free from the pain of my disc problem—and I began going to the pool regularly until I became a skilled swimmer.

As the days went by, I resumed running on my own. I was always trying to make the most of my running time, which is what prompted me to start listening to audiobooks—and the benefits became both physical and mental. Then came a day that I consider one of the best days of my running journey. I was talking with a foreign friend who was living and studying in Amman, and our conversation turned to running. She asked me why I didn’t come run with our group. Running Amman, so I said, “I’ve never run with a group before. It sounds interesting to me, and I’m definitely open to giving it a try. I’ll join you on your next run.”

I remember that day perfectly. It was Friday, May 26, 2017. I woke up early and went to the group’s meeting spot. I spoke with the founder and some of the members until it was time to start the run. We ran about ten kilometers, and after we finished, we headed to one of the city’s cafes for a cup of coffee. It was a special coffee—I didn’t know the secret behind its uniqueness. Was it the coffee itself that was special, or was it the feeling I was experiencing at that moment that made it seem so special? I loved that group and I loved its members. How had it never occurred to me before to look for a group to run with? Now that I’ve found it, I’ll never stop running with them—that’s what I thought, and that’s how I decided to join this group.

Joining the Team Running Amman It had a huge impact on my running. As soon as I joined them, I realized that my knowledge of running was practically nonexistent; I didn’t know—and couldn’t have imagined—that there was a science behind this sport, a true and comprehensive science. I also didn’t realize that this science could take a runner to levels far beyond what they had previously achieved. To me, the members of the group weren’t just intelligent athletes; more importantly, they were a source of inspiration for me. I learned a lot from them, and spending time with them increased my desire to improve myself as a runner, which had a positive impact on my endurance and speed in the sport.  

To this day, even though I’ve been running for about thirteen years, I’ve never run a full marathon, I don’t think that’s a shortcoming for a runner, since running is a sport with different disciplines as well—including short, middle, and long distances. Long-distance runners have slender builds that somewhat resemble those of soccer players, whereas basketball players like me resemble sprinters, who have a muscular build—and that’s the look I think suits me best.

However, I did have the experience of running one marathon, when a group of runners of Running Amman agreed to articipate in the Malta Marathon, and of course, since I’m one of the group’s long-time members, I decided to join them and signed up to run my first marathon ever. I began preparing by doing the necessary exercises according to a well-thought-out plan that I developed in coordination with my teammates. Shortly after starting my training, I began to feel pain in my knee. At first, I thought it was just due to the intensity of the workouts and that I just needed some rest, so I stopped running for a few days, but as soon as I resumed training, the pain returned with the same intensity, which prompted me to see a doctor to determine the cause of the pain. The doctor then informed me that I was suffering from iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), which is simply inflammation of the tissue beneath a band that runs from the pelvis to the shin, caused by friction between the band and a bony protrusion on the lower part of the thigh bone. I tried to resume my training, but every time I attempted it, I was unable to complete the workout due to the severe pain. I was forced to stop training entirely in the hope that the pain would subside before the marathon.

The time to travel had come, and I can say that I was never really ready for the race. Still, I traveled and decided I would run it, hoping that being with my colleagues and friends would push me to finish it. And now, my injury has improved significantly after I gave it a good amount of rest.

The race began, and I started running with the other runners. As soon as it began, I started to feel a slight pain. I kept running until I reached the sixth kilometer, where the pain began to intensify. I kept running, and with every step I took, the pain grew stronger and stronger. I reached the tenth kilometer, and the pain became intense. The runners began to pass me as my pace slowed noticeably. Still, I was determined to keep going and finish the race. Most of the runners passed me as I kept trying and trying, until I reached the sixteenth kilometer, at which point I couldn’t take a single step further. I looked behind me and saw that I was in last place. No one was behind me. I couldn’t even put weight on my feet, and my legs couldn’t support me. Some paramedics came up to me and asked, “Are you okay?” but—praise be to God, who alone is worthy of praise—I was not okay at all. I was feeling unbearable, excruciating pain. They carried me to the ambulance, administered first aid, and relieved the pain with topical painkillers.

I was sad that I couldn’t finish the race, but despite my pain, I got out of the ambulance after assuring them I was okay so I could head to the finish line. I wanted to share in my friends’ joy at finishing the race, and I took lots of photos of them as they crossed the finish line. I was overjoyed watching them cross that line and add another achievement to their records. I felt as if I were right there with each one of them. I’ll keep those photos as a beautiful memory of a race I wasn’t meant to finish—but I’ll be back one day to finish it.

I’ve started running again after a forced break that lasted about two months, and I plan not only to complete a marathon but also a triathlon—a race that begins with swimming, followed by cycling, and then running, with the distances for each segment varying depending on the type of race. In the end, I want to say to everyone reading this story that nothing is impossible in life. Its challenges are endless and continue as long as we are alive, but with willpower, determination, and strong resolve, you can overcome those challenges no matter how great they may be. It all depends on you and your willpower, No matter how busy you are, and no matter your age, if you truly want something, you are certainly capable of achieving it. Self-improvement knows no bounds; life, just like the heart, beats with beautiful days and sad ones, and it’s up to you to turn every moment into an unforgettable one.

Alaa, who began his long career by running on a treadmill, is now one of the team's strongest and fastest runners in Running AmmanWhether you prefer running outdoors or on a treadmill, start exercising to begin reaping the benefits.

Read the first part of Alaa's story Sports Are Passion

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