It’s 5.30am: far too early for most people to be awake, let alone strapped into trainers on a Friday morning. But the Doha Bay Running Club is out in force for their weekly Friday morning jaunt along the Corniche.

‘I think running is especially good for you in the morning as it gives you a mental and physical energy boost for the rest of the day,’ says Karl Street, one of the founding members of the popular club.

The group currently has over 170 members, and around 20 to 35 turn up with the sun on Fridays. They also recently organized the first 10km race in Qatar at Doha College, and the college has now committed to making it an annual event. It’s come a long way since Street first looked for a running buddy in 2009.

‘I had lived in Dubai for eight years and after retiring from contact rugby I took up running. There are four running clubs in Dubai. However, when I arrived I could not find any running clubs in Doha. So I found two fellow runners, Simon Firth and Paul Jones, running on the Corniche and suggested we form a running club.’

It’s not just all super fit speed demons either: they have beginner, interval training and timed groups that meet throughout the week, in addition to the Friday morning run. ‘It is a club for anyone who is interested in running,’ says Street. He, along with members from the group, is headed to Dubai this month to compete in the 42km Dubai Full Marathon. Every year, the group trains for a variety of events, including the Dubai Half Marathon in December and Full Marathon in January, and the RAK Half Marathon and Wadi Bih race in February. But, new members are always welcome to join, and their routes are set up so people can set their own pace and goals.

‘The number of people running on Friday morning varies between 20 and 35. Anyone can join, for the Friday group you will need to be able to run at least 5km,’ says Street. ‘There is a “beginners” running group that runs on Sunday evening at the Hyatt Park near Villaggio. The Hyatt Park running track is 4.3km long so you can run one lap or two. There are a number of runners in the group who are now running distances that they thought would not be possible only a few months ago. Three ran in the Dubai Half Marathon who have never run the distance in a competitive race before.’

But, why run in Qatar? ‘Doha is where we are now,’ says Emilie Fitzmaurice, a member of the club. ‘Running is probably the most economical way to stay fit and healthy. With fitness comes a pleasant feeling of comfort while running – ability to chat while on the run and enjoying the fresh air and company.’

Street agrees: although he enjoys the run, he’s quick to point out one of his favourite parts of the Friday morning 5km is the hot chocolate and chat at the coffee shop afterwards. ‘I found that I really enjoyed the social aspects plus the competitive nature of sport. The other part of the story is that you run against people of your own age group rather than against someone who is 20 years younger,’ he says.

Doha’s also got loads of runner appeal: beyond the pressing need to beat back the Doha Stone, the country has loads of places to run. ‘We run from the Corniche as it is easy for everyone to find and run back to if one gets lost,’ says Street.

Qatar has one of the highest obesity rates in the world – estimates claim that roughly half Qatar’s adults and one third of its children are overweight or obese. The Qatar Diabetes Association recently found 17 per cent of Nationals now are diabetic – this excludes expats, which would only raise that figure. There are numerous official initiatives to get people moving, including the newly declared National Sports Day every February, but most people blame the sedentary lifestyle in Qatar for ever-expanding waistbands. But even knowing this, getting the motivation to get off the couch can be tricky.

‘My own tip would be find a friend or join our club. Running by yourself when you are just getting started or you want to step up your distance is hard work, it is much easier if you do it with a friend,’ says Street. ‘One should also try and set a goal – sign up for a race, say 10km two to six months in the future and then tell everyone that you have signed up for the race. That way you will get plenty of positive support from your friends to help you reach your goal.’

He also says joining a club like theirs helps you learn the proper techniques, and makes sure you train correctly – many people start the New Year with grandiose fitness plans, only to hurt themselves and boomerang off the wagon.

‘One can get injuries from running, usually foot or leg muscle related injuries. So one of the rules is to increase one’s distance by 10 per cent per week, so as not to overdo it and risk injury,’ says Street. ‘The hardest part for most runners is not being able to run when one is injured. Though the second would be trying to get that last ounce of energy to beat your Personal Best (PB) time in a race.’

More importantly however, he says running is just plain fun. ‘At the start of the run one is full of energy, ready to chat with other members of the group or look at the scenery. However, if one is taking part in a competitive race and one is tired then the focus is on keeping the rhythm going, taking each step at a time to reach the finish in the best time one is able to!’ he says. ‘I like running either in as part of a group or when I go on holiday and run in new locations where the focus is the scenery and location.’
The Doha Bay Running Club is free to join. The beginner running group meets on Sunday at 6pm at Hyatt Park near Villaggio for runs around the 4.3km track. The interval group meets on Wednesday at 7pm at Qatar Sports Club. Monthly, they hold 5km and 10km time trail races at Hyatt Park on a Wednesday at 7pm, and Zekreet desert runs on a Saturday at 5.30am. The main run is every Friday at 5.30am, starting at the Corniche next to the Sheraton Hotel. For more information, join their Facebook group or http://dohabayrunningclub.webs.com