RIYADH: M.I.L.E. Run Club is a homegrown community where Saudi youth chase personal bests and collective belonging on Jeddah鈥檚 corniche.
Founded by 23-year-old Ammaar Malak, M.I.L.E. (Make It Look Easy) is forging a generation that wears perseverance like a medal.
The club was designed to leave no one behind. Its Walking Circle, which has Malak鈥檚 mother as a member and is tailored for retirees and rehab patients, exemplifies this ethos.
Malak鈥檚 origin story is full of cinematic grit. Weeks before an MMA fight in London he tore a ligament and needed surgery.
鈥淎lone in that sterile hospital room, I truly believed my life was over,鈥 he told Arab News. 鈥淐ompetitive fighting was my identity. Without it, I was lost.鈥
His recovery began with limping walks, then shuffling jogs through London鈥檚 parks. Now, a 184-day run streak pays testimony to his determination.
鈥淪howing up bridges who you are and who you want to be,鈥 Malak said. 鈥淩unning taught me true freedom: disciplining your mind to conquer anything.鈥
The club鈥檚 ethos is 鈥渘ot about faking perfection. It鈥檚 carrying weight with grace. Staying compassionate when life tries to harden you,鈥 he said.
Malak, who was named most promising athlete at the American International School of Jeddah in 2019 and became one of the Middle East鈥檚 youngest CrossFit-certified trainers at age 20, felt there was a mental health aspect missing from conventional training.
鈥淲e had gyms and tracks but few spaces nurturing mental armor alongside physical strength,鈥 he said.
M.I.L.E. focuses on strengthening mental resilience through community. Its secret weapon emerges when the running stops: communal ice cream tubs passed under streetlights.
Here, marathoners and first-timers share stories: the fear before kilometer one, the cramps at kilometer eight, the euphoria of conquering doubt.
The closeness of the team exemplifies M.I.L.E.鈥檚 alchemy. Malak recounted how each of them joined during Ramadan with no running experience but later conquered 21 km 鈥 a testament to the club鈥檚 support.
The clubs other members are: Mohammed Alhumaidi (21), Adnan Softa (22), Albaraa Al-Bakri (24), Sarah Al-Mansour (25), Faisal Al-Bar (23), Hamza Al-Kaffas (21) and Tariq Jamal (22).
鈥淭his community is far greater than any individual,鈥 Malak said.
As well as the support the Walking Circle provides to those with mobility issues, the club鈥檚 Steady Striders supports teenagers, like Malak鈥檚 16-year-old sister Tamara, targeting 10K races.
The Athlete Tier trains ultra-runners for 50K+ distances. Mohammed Al-Humaidi, 21, engineers adaptive routes to ensure universal access.
鈥淲ithin M.I.L.E., no one is background noise,鈥 Malak said.
The solidarity becomes evident after the front-runners finish. Instead of dispersing, they double back, sprinting alongside stragglers, screaming encouragement with cracked voices.
Team members have waited hours under the scorching sun to uphold Malak鈥檚 core covenant: No M.I.L.E. member crosses alone.
This promise helped to create 10 first-time half-marathoners, showing how communal solidarity helps beginners to conquer the 21 km.
For Malak, there is an element of national pride in M.I.L.E.
鈥淏ringing Saudi Vision 2030 to life isn鈥檛 abstract, it鈥檚 our hands-on duty,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e sweat today out of love for our nation鈥檚 tomorrow.鈥
This conviction fuels his routine of 4 a.m. runs and midnight exam studies after coaching sessions.
Malak鈥檚 newly minted UESCA ultra running coach certification propels M.I.L.E. into uncharted territory. From September, workshops will shepherd beginners to 50K+ ultramarathons.
鈥淲e鈥檙e engineering resilience,鈥 he said.
The ambition? Global reckoning.
鈥淎broad, 鈥楽audi鈥 still whispers 鈥榣azy鈥 or 鈥榚ntitled鈥 to some. We鈥檒l crush those cliches underfoot,鈥 he told Arab News.
鈥淏ringing Saudi Vision 2030 to life isn鈥檛 abstract. And we鈥檝e only begun.鈥
