When Running and Religion collide.

[AtheistCrusader]

Same vein as the World Cup/fasting issue, different sport.

http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/when-running-and-religion-collide?cid=social_20140715_27868336

"Aisha Sultan’s heart dropped when she sat down to plan her training schedule right after registering for this fall’s Chicago Marathon.

As if preparing for her first marathon wasn’t hard enough, Sultan realized, she’d have to do it while forgoing food and water between sunrise and sunset.

Sultan, of St. Louis, is a Muslim who observes Ramadan, now under way until July 28. And in a running calendar growing more and more crowded, she’s one of many runners facing complex conflicts between their religions and their sport.

“There’s a very spiritual element for me in both of these things in my life,” says Sultan, a columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch who is running to raise money for research to stop Alzheimer’s disease, from which both of her grandparents suffered."



Seems like an easy fix to me...

[hrmjustin]

1. I feel for her.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. I know right? I go through close to a full gallon in a marathon.

If some person told me I wasn't allowed to imbibe water while running, I'd probably break their legs.

Ok, maybe not that severe, but I would consider any attempt to restrain me from water as an assault upon my person, and react accordingly. Glad I don't believe in... things that aren't people... that have such proscriptions for various days/seasons, etc.

[hrmjustin]

4. You run often?

[AtheistCrusader]

6. Every day.

Unless something is wrong with me or schedule absolutely prevents it. Then it's burpees.

[hrmjustin]

7. Do you do full26 mile marathons?

[AtheistCrusader]

8. Sure do.

I'm better at half marathons, but yeah, I do the whole enchilada. No ultras yet though. Ignoring one marathon where I got lost and put in over 30 miles total, according to the GPS.

[hrmjustin]

9. The NY marathon passes up the block from me.

Always a fun event.

[AtheistCrusader]

16. So far I haven't traveled out of state for one.

I might do Vegas Rock&Roll someday.

I wish I had the dedication to run Badwater.

[longship]

2. One would think it would be easy.

Apparently not. I hope she doesn't collapse from dehydration.

Kind of boggles the mind, though, that one would think it was a good idea to run a marathon while fasting from sun-up until sun-down. If one believes that one has to fast, why then do they have to run?

One can do one, but not likely both. Either your body or your soul, I suppose. It just does not make since to me.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. Kind of boggles my mind that some supernatural thingy would make such a demand sacrifice of

his/her/its adherents.

Like, what for? Seems arbitrary and capricious. And uh... frustrating to the members.

[okasha]

10. Since the actual marathon isn't till fall,

and columnists usually have deadlines rather than office hours, perhaps she could arrange to do her training during the time she can eat and drink.

That wouldn't work for a 9-to-5 employee, though.

[AtheistCrusader]

15. I do prefer to run at night, actually.

It's not for everyone though

[Rainforestgoddess]

11. So one of my son's friends and his dad are Muslim

but his mother isn't. We had an interesting discussion about Ramadan recently, and she said that there were lots of exceptions, athletics among them, age of course and medical conditions. So it really isn't an issue. The way to make up for not fasting is to atone by feeding a poor person.

Perhaps there are differing sects (I admit to not reading the article, just the post) and that's where the issue lies.

[Lordquinton]

12. I've talked about this sort of thing with muslim friends in the past

and they all said that it was ok, and in their books to forgo things like fasting (and wearing a headscarf in the wake of 9-11) for your health and well-being. And seeing as this is a marathon for charity (unless I read that wrong) then I think it justifies it's self.

[Rainforestgoddess]

13. Yeah, tempest in a teapot

The runner doesn't even have to go against the rules of the religion, and if she chooses to feel guilty about drinking water while training, that's on her. Volunteer at a soup kitchen to make up for it. In my mind, that does more good than fasting, anyway.

[cbayer]

14. I think we all have to make decisions in our lives in which we weigh the plusses and minuses.

Observing Ramdam and the Sabbath can be very important experiences for some people. Sound like many of them make compromises and that's a good thing as well.

I hope she does well.