Member Spotlight: How Sunday Runs Built My Dubai Network

Marina K. moved to Dubai from Almaty in March 2024 for a finance role at a DIFC investment firm. "I knew exactly two people. Both were colleagues. Neither lived nearby."

Three weeks in, a teammate forwarded the IDIGOV Runners WhatsApp invite. "I almost didn't go — 7am on a Sunday is brutal when you've just moved cities. But I told myself one Sunday won't kill me."

What Stuck

"It wasn't the running. It was that nobody asked what I do for work for the first hour. We talked about the heat, the pace, the dogs on the beach. By the time anyone asked about my job, I already had ten people I'd run side-by-side with."

Two years and 80+ Sundays later, Marina has run her first half marathon (1:52), joined three side-projects from people she met in the group, and now hosts the post-run breakfast at a rotating cafe most weekends.

Her Advice for New Members

• Show up three times before deciding. First Sunday is awkward. Third Sunday isn't.
• Don't worry about pace. The group splits naturally. The slowest runner has someone next to them every single week.
• Stay for breakfast. The coffee after the run is where the relationships actually form.
• Volunteer once you've been around for a month. Help with route maps, photos, new-member intros. Belonging accelerates fast when you contribute.

Marina is now training for the 2027 Dubai Marathon with a sub-4:00 goal. She still doesn't run for fitness. "I run because that's where my Sundays live now."