Fasting 5Ks celebrate Ramadan

Imagine running a 5K without having breakfast, lunch or dinner beforehand, nor anything to drink. Think you could do it?

This was the reality for runners in five cities across the United States on Saturday – Boston, New York, Houston, D.C. and Huntington Beach, Calif. — who took part in “Fasting 5Ks,” a celebration of sport during the Muslim holy observation of Ramadan. During Ramadan, believers do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset, upon which they are allowed to break their fast.

The idea for the race was developed by a group of young Muslims in Boston who were out for a bike ride at night, Ramadan making it difficult for them to exercise during the day.

“We were hoping that everyone’s first response is, ‘You’re crazy,’ and that statement of ‘you’re crazy’ would motivate them to pull out their wallet and donate.” Viqar Hussein, one of the race co-founders, told NPR. That was last year, when the first ever fasting 5K consisted of 34 runners raising $15,000 for a local charity. This year, participation is up, with 130 runners participating and generating $25,000 in donations.

The funds generated by the race go towards youth education and development programs, as the race founders point out the importance of bridging a cultural gap for young Muslims. The races take place in the evening, allowing the runners to break their fast together (and take in some much needed refuel) afterwards.

You don’t have to be Muslim to participate in these races. Runners who are curious about what Ramadan is like and interested in experiencing a unique community vibe should check out the project.

While a 5K is cool, we hope that the race stays at that distance. A fasting half-marathon or marathon would be an extreme health risk for participants.