Sami Qatami – My Story with Sports and Running, Part 2/2

In May 2019, I met an American woman who went running twice a week with two Jordanian runners; they would run at 5:30 a.m. before heading to work. I joined them and started running on the street. I loved running at dawn; the atmosphere was quiet, and the morning breeze was refreshing and encouraging for exercise. I learned from them the importance of warm-ups, stretching, and regular training to achieve the desired results.

Watching my foreign coworkers reinforced my feeling that I needed to stick with what I’d started, and I always told myself that one day I’d be just like them—or maybe even better—if I could stick to my workout routine the way I’m doing it now, or perhaps add another day of the week to go running, so I started to Run Three days a week instead of two—I gradually began to be able to run for longer periods. The fifteen minutes that used to be the longest I could run became thirty, then forty-five, then a full hour. It’s true that it was exhausting every time, but it made me feel overwhelmingly happy. I was delighted to see clear progress in my endurance and physical fitness. Only then did I start smiling when I saw my colleagues heading to the gym, and I’d say to myself, “You’re on the right track.”

The American coach I used to run with had to leave suddenly, so I had to find a suitable replacement—since I was certain I wouldn’t run on my own. I quickly searched social media and found a group called the Amman Running Team (Running Amman), they were running three times a week, which was exactly what I was looking for. I joined them and started running with them, and I quickly got to know the team members. My athletic performance improved significantly, as many of the team members were very knowledgeable about running, I benefited greatly from their advice on nutrition and training techniques, and I started running for more than an hour.

About two months after I joined the team Running Amman One day, while we were having breakfast after one of our Friday morning runs, some team members suggested participating in Marathon In Malta, just as many of the team’s runners began expressing their desire to participate and their support for the idea, I asked myself, “Why not go and run with them?” I know I won’t achieve spectacular results—I’m still new to this sport—but participating could add a lot to my modest experience in running, and it might motivate me to keep going and put in more effort to achieve my goals. I found myself telling them, “I’ll participate in Race half marathon.

First Race

I went home, turned on my computer, and started looking up flight prices to Malta. The prices were reasonable and affordable, so I booked my ticket and began to think: “Wow, I’m going to run a 21-kilometer race.” My mind drifted back to that day when I saw my classmates heading to the gym, and I remembered how disappointed I’d felt in myself. I smiled and said to myself, “Here I am, getting closer to what I’d hoped for that day.” Yes, I’ve become an athlete, and I’ll be running a half-marathon soon.

With only three weeks left until race day, I began training more intensely in preparation for the event. Some people around me thought what I was doing was pure madness, since just three months earlier I hadn’t been able to run for more than 15 minutes, so how could I possibly run for more than two hours? But with the unparalleled support and encouragement of the Running Amman team—who played a huge role in preparing me and supporting me mentally and emotionally—I was able to finish the race in two hours and three minutes. My joy was indescribable as I crossed the finish line, that line that marked my transition from an overweight person to someone athletic, strong, and in excellent physical shape.

Today I proved to myself that I am capable of achieving any goal, no matter what it is—whether athletic, professional, or personal—because if a person truly wants something, fate will surely respond, provided they put in the effort, commitment, and dedication required.

I will continue running with the Running Amman team, and, God willing, the day will come when I run a full marathon. With this team of athletes, these kinds of friends, and this supportive environment, defining your path and goals in life brings you closer to achieving them.

Read The First part of Sami's story with running

Read also the story of “The Big Day” at Urkod