I Joined a Running Club and It Changed My Life // by Tracy Thomas

Sometimes the most profound life changes start with one small decision. A few years ago, that happened to me when I decided to join a running club in Dubai. At the time, my life was in a state of what felt like chaotic flux; my physical and mental health had taken a nosedive, I was newly single in my 30s, and my job had changed to full-time remote, so I was feeling a bit isolated. As a result, I was going through the familiar existential expat crisis of wondering whether I wanted to stay in Dubai. I didn’t really know what I wanted to change or how to do it, but I knew I wasn’t happy and needed to try something different. 

I had popped in and out of the InnerFight Ladies Running Club a few years prior, but hadn’t been in over a year. When it comes to fitness communities in Dubai, we are spoilt for choice; while this is wonderful, it can also feel intimidating to figure out where you belong. But this running club felt different. I was nervous going to my first session back, but I was met with warmth and encouragement from all the running coaches and fellow runners, who immediately wanted to help me improve my life through running.

It was a relief to realise that I wasn’t alone; there were others who not only had the lifestyle I wanted, but also wanted to support me in creating it for myself. 

I went to the first session, then the next, and within the first week, I couldn’t quite explain it, but I knew I had found the thing that would give me the stability and positivity I needed most at that time. It felt like I had finally uncovered a magical secret I had missed during my first seven years in Dubai: a group of like-minded, driven people who were equal parts enthusiastic about becoming better versions of themselves and having a lot of fun in the process. What I loved about this community was that it included people of all levels and never felt judgmental. The most important thing was that I was there, and with that, I was welcomed to join in.  

On a whim and with encouragement from the coach, I signed up for my first 10km race in years the following weekend. I was not fit enough to run that whole race, but the coach reminded me that it didn’t matter how much time it took, as long as I kept going, literally one step at a time. When you are at a place in your life where you feel stuck and are struggling to move forward, hearing this resonated deeply. That race looked like some running, some walking, a lot of fighting with the negative thoughts that had flooded my mind, a bit of crying, but mostly a wave of joy and a sense of accomplishment upon finishing. For the first time in a long time, I felt a glimmer of hope that things might improve and that I had found a way to do it. I approached every session with curiosity and self-compassion, and slowly but surely began to regain my sense of humour and zest for life.

For me, running became so much more than just exercise; it became a metaphor for life – a way to face challenges, grow stronger, and build character. Running taught me that sometimes starting or restarting is the hardest part and that everyone starts somewhere different. The mantras of “one step at a time” and “we can do hard things” became ingrained in my mind, not just while running but in my life too, as I navigated a lot of changes. It became clear to me that during the training, I was not only physically moving forward but also emotionally. I kept showing up session after session and loved how it got me moving, chatting with great people, watching the sunrise, and spending time outdoors, all before the workday began. 

I never thought I would be that person, but within that first six months, I ran my first marathon. During the training block, I quickly learnt that sometimes you need to slow down to go further.

After years of living at such a fast pace with stress and burnout, the lesson felt simple, but it gave me permission to slow down in other areas of my life.

Rest and recovery were no longer options; they were essential. Instead of comparing myself to others, I had to choose a pace I could manage to find my own rhythm in running and life. Running reminded me that not every day will feel good, and that’s okay. Tomorrow is a new day to try again. What’s important is that you show up, and that’s what I needed to be doing for myself during a challenging time. 

Running highlighted how focusing on what you can do or control, rather than what you can’t, helps you break things up. Instead of facing life's challenges as one big, scary hurdle, I began breaking them down into small milestones, just as I was doing in training: one run at a time. It encouraged me to take care of myself more like an athlete would, paying attention to how what I put into my body directly affected how I performed and felt. I became more selective about how I spent my time, both socially and at work, while training for the marathon. It was the first time in years that my goals were no longer all centred around my career. Running was no longer just a bit of fitness; it had a purpose that stretched far beyond the marathon. 

Since then, it has been a ripple effect of positive changes in my life. What started as a small decision to get a bit fitter turned into a lifestyle change, amazing new friendships formed, plenty of fitness-related adventures around the UAE and abroad, and the reboot my mindset needed most. A few months after the marathon, I did my first ultramarathon, and the learning and changes continued. Running offered me a way to strengthen my mindset, challenge myself, and appreciate how strong and resilient I can be. The running community gave me the type of social outlet I hadn’t realised I had been missing since my high school sporting days. Life started to feel like an adventure again, just as I had longed for. 

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Tracy Thomas is Head of Content at INFIJOY