Choose Nearest City

  • Calgary
  • Ottawa
  • Edmonton
  • Regina
  • Halifax
  • Saskatoon
  • Hamilton
  • Toronto GTA
  • Kingston
  • Vancouver
  • Kitchener
  • Waterloo
  • London
  • Windsor
  • Montreal
  • Winnipeg
  • Outside of Canada

Choose your city (or nearest city)

  • Calgary
  • Montreal
  • Edmonton
  • Ottawa
  • Regina
  • Saskatoon
  • Halifax
  • Toronto GTA
  • Hamilton
  • Vancouver
  • Kingston
  • Waterloo
  • Kitchener
  • Windsor
  • London
  • Winnipeg
  • Outside of Canada
  • Events
  • Directory
  • AdvertiseAdvertise
  • PatronsPatrons

Enter your login credentials

Forgot username?

Forgot password?

Remember Me
Register
Facebook Login Google Login
loading
Please wait, logging in...

Register Details

Have an account? Login

Forgot Username

[Form forgot_username not found!]

Forgot Password

[Form forgot_password not found!]

How would you like to proceed?

LOG IN / SIGN UP allows you to:
  • Have a record of all events you've been to.
  • Request cancellation if you cannot make it to an event.
  • Post an event of your own.
  • Add your business/organization listing to the online directory.
  • Add an opportunity (job, volunteer, petition, survey, etc.).

Please login to continue

LOG IN / SIGN UP allows you to:
  • Have a record of all events you've been to.
  • Request cancellation if you cannot make it to an event.
  • Post an event of your own.
  • Add your business/organization listing to the online directory.
  • Add an opportunity (job, volunteer, petition, survey, etc.).
Muslim Link is Ottawa Muslims' Online Community Newspaper. The site includes an up-to-date Events Listing and Business and Community Directory for Ottawa Muslims.
x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

  • Home
  • Events
    • Ottawa
    • Montreal
    • Toronto GTA
    • Edmonton
    • Calgary
    • Vancouver
    • London
    • Windsor
    • Hamilton
    • Halifax
    • Winnipeg
    • Kingston
    • Kitchener/Waterloo
    • Regina/Saskatoon
    • Event Table
  • Directory
    • Ottawa
    • Montreal
    • Toronto GTA
    • Edmonton
    • Calgary
    • Vancouver
    • London
    • Windsor
    • Hamilton
    • Halifax
    • Winnipeg
    • Kingston
    • Kitchener/Waterloo
    • Regina/Saskatoon
  • News
  • Stories
  • Islamic Finance
  • Classifieds
    • Opportunities
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Job Opportunities
      • Crowdfunding
      • Bazaar Vendors Wanted
      • Call for Donations
      • ​​Scholarships / Bursaries
      • ​​Petitions
      • Nominations
      • ​​Call for Participants
      • ​​Call for Submissions
      • Call for Abstracts
      • Grants
      • ​​Surveys
      • ​​Invitation to Dialogue
      • Sponsorships
      • Contests
    • Locations
      • Jumaa Locations
      • Full-Time Islamic Schools
      • Part-Time Islamic Schools
      • Hifz Programs
      • Iftar Locations
      • Taraweeh Prayers
      • I'tikaf Locations
      • Eid Prayers
      • Eid Festival Locations
      • Camp Locations
  • Opportunities
  • Locations
  • Home
  • News
  • Ottawa Race Weekend Runners: Raysso Aden Ran to Promote Health and Fitness
Raysso Aden receiving her medal at the 2015 Ottawa Race Weekend. Raysso Aden receiving her medal at the 2015 Ottawa Race Weekend. Courtesy of Raysso Aden
05
Jun
2015

Ottawa Race Weekend Runners: Raysso Aden Ran to Promote Health and Fitness

Written by  Muslim Link
Published in News
  • Add to Facebook
  • Like this? Tweet it to your followers!

The Ottawa Race Weekend, May 23-24 this year, is an annual two-day running event made up of multiple races. All the races start and end at Ottawa City Hall. There are 2K, 5K, 10K, half (just over 21km), and full marathons (just over 42km) in addition to a 1.2m kid’s marathon and a wheelchair marathon. Almost 50,000 people participated this year and the key event is the Ottawa Marathon. First held in 1975, the Ottawa Marathon is the largest marathon event in Canada and participants can use it to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Raysso Aden ran her first 5K on this weekend and shares her experience with Muslim Link.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Raysso Aden, I study at the University of Ottawa and have lived in this city for the past 15 years. I am a Canadian of Somali and Yemeni ethno-cultural background.

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

Why did you decide to participate in Ottawa Race Weekend?

I work at an internet software company called Rebel, which operates under the motto "Be Thoughtful", "Be Simple" and "Be Brave". One manifestation of these ideals guiding our company is to get more creative and active in challenging employees to participate in local social events. An email circulated around the office about the Ottawa Race Weekend's 5k race and soon enough, we had thirteen Rebel runners.

Despite some of the challenges I may face, I did not think twice about participating in this year's Ottawa Race Weekend event. I have always been an advocate of promoting a healthy lifestyle while having as much fun as possible doing so. I have volunteered with the community outreach team for the Canadian Blood Services and have also coordinated a program via the Somali Centre of Family Services called "Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds" for a couple of years.

The former educated the general public about blood and bone marrow donations and encouraged everyone to be a donor if they could.

The latter, was a program which had two components: fitness and life skills training. The project provided young girls from multicultural backgrounds [with] the opportunity to develop skills they need to make informed decisions affecting their health. At the end of the year, we would go on an all-girls camping trip to celebrate the girls' participation. However, to me and many others, this trip was more than just about camping: it was to give young adolescent multicultural girls an opportunity to experience something unique, challenging, and fulfilling that they otherwise would not have experienced due to the cultural barriers we face daily. A cultural clash between what is considered modest for a girl/woman and what should only be left for boys/men. Providing a girls-only environment has enabled me to break through conservative cultural barriers and it has built a stronger sisterhood among us.

Moreover, the main reason for my participation stemmed from my concerns that not many girls, women, mothers, and grandmothers in my ethnic community are visibly active when it comes to health/fitness related community events. I try to be as much of an example as I can be for those girls and women. 

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

How did you prepare for the race?

Each Tuesday and Thursday, our runners would train along the Rideau Canal. I had personally started training for this race 10 days prior with 2 gym sessions and 2 practice runs.

How do you feel about having the opportunity to participate in such a big event in your home town?

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity and ability to participate in such a huge event in my home town, especially in support of a great organization such as the Ottawa Humane Society.

How does your faith connect to your participation in an event like this?

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

As a Muslim, Sadaqah (charity) is a great deed in Islam and it is even considered as one's proof of faith. Furthermore, looking after my health is an essential part of a Muslim's life. I am expected to take care of my mind, soul, and body to the best of my ability. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have said "And your body also has a right over you".

What were some highlights from the race for you?

Although my sinuses were clogged due to the flu and the constant dry cough made it hard to breathe properly, the energy around me was incredible! The words of encouragement from complete strangers cheering you on felt great and created such an uplifting sense of community. I definitely recommend everyone participate in next year's Ottawa Race Weekend. You will be investing in your health, supporting a registered charity, and initiating social engagement while having lots of fun! 

This article was produced exclusively for Muslim Link and should not be copied without prior permission from the site. For permission, please write to info@muslimlink.ca.

Read 4699 times Last modified on Fri, 05 Jun 2015 00:56
Rate this item
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
(1 Vote)
Tagged under
  • Ottawa Race Weekend
  • Raysso Aden

Muslim Link

Latest from Muslim Link

  • Dhilal Alhaboob: Meet One of Canada's One Young World Ambassadors Dhilal Alhaboob: Meet One of Canada's One Young World Ambassadors
  • October Is Now Islamic History Month in Ontario October Is Now Islamic History Month in Ontario
  • A Hackathon for Muslim Canadians: Interview with the Team Behind ILM Weekend A Hackathon for Muslim Canadians: Interview with the Team Behind ILM Weekend

Related items

  • Serenity Conference on Mental Health Builds Bridges between Ottawa’s Muslim Communities Serenity Conference on Mental Health Builds Bridges between Ottawa’s Muslim Communities
  • Combating Stigma around Mental Illness within Ottawa’s Muslim Communities: The Serenity Islamic Mental Health Awareness Conference Combating Stigma around Mental Illness within Ottawa’s Muslim Communities: The Serenity Islamic Mental Health Awareness Conference
  • Ottawa Race Weekend Runners: Seyma Uran Ran for Islamic Relief Canada Ottawa Race Weekend Runners: Seyma Uran Ran for Islamic Relief Canada
back to top
x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

Ottawa Events
View More Events
Online Event
South Asian Heritage Month: Unpack Indo-Caribbean Roots +Indian Arrival Day
Mon, May 16, 2022 06:00pm EST/EDT
Educational
Online Event
Institute for Religious and Socio-Political Studies Muslim Organizations in Canada Report & Policy Discussion
Wed, May 18, 2022 05:30pm MST/MDT
Educational
Special Screening of the Film "Free Trip to Egypt"
Sat, May 21, 2022 02:30pm EST/EDT
Film Screenings
Online Event
South Asian Heritage Month 2022: Mental Health and Supports in South Asian Communities
Wed, May 25, 2022 04:00pm EST/EDT
Educational
Online Event
Syrian Canadian Tareq Hadhad Peace by Chocolate Resiliency Through Adversity
Wed, May 25, 2022 07:00pm AST/ADT
Educational

Featured Articles

  • Why Visit Halal Expo Canada? Meet The Speakers Why Visit Halal Expo Canada? Meet The Speakers
  • The Canadian-Muslim Vote Launches Campaign to Mobilize Estimated  Half Million Muslim Voters in Ontario Election The Canadian-Muslim Vote Launches Campaign to Mobilize Estimated Half Million Muslim Voters in Ontario Election
  • Check Out Upcoming Eid Celebrations Across Canada Check Out Upcoming Eid Celebrations Across Canada

Twitter Posts

Check Out Muslim Link's Latest Snapshot! https://t.co/LUWQls2zmd https://t.co/QZpb8uQRmH https://t.co/XScGhAabBU...
3 weeks ago
Ottawa Muslim Women's Shelter That Opened During the Pandemic Fundraising This #Ramadan https://t.co/NuHD1ebKOD https://t.co/AQFhvJ2ZmM...
1 month ago
Gendered Islamophobia: Personal Reflections of Three Alberta Women ONLINE April 1 https://t.co/qGDS8IkN8z… https://t.co/2BlMzImHL2...
2 months ago
Muslim Link

About us

  • About Muslim Link
    Our Team
    About Eye Media
    Contact Us
    Diversity & Inclusion Policy
  • Events & Directory Disclaimer
  • Project: A Muslim History of Ottawa

How To

  • Claim a directory listing
    Create a directory listing
    Post an event
    Sell Tickets
    Report a mistake

Event Listings

  •  - Ottawa
  •  - Toronto GTA
  •  - Montreal
  •  - Edmonton
  •  - Calgary
  •  - Vancouver
  •  - London
  •  - Windsor
  •  - Hamilton
  •  - Kitchener/Waterloo
  •  - Halifax
  •  - Winnipeg
  •  - Kingston
  •  - Regina/Saskatoon

Business & Community Directory

  •  - Ottawa
  •  - Toronto GTA
  •  - Montreal
  •  - Edmonton
  •  - Calgary
  •  - Vancouver
  •  - London
  •  - Windsor
  •  - Hamilton
  •  - Kitchener/Waterloo
  •  - Halifax
  •  - Winnipeg
  •  - Kingston
  •  - Regina/Saskatoon

Advertisers

  • Advertise Online
  • Become a Patron
  • Sponsorships
  • Join Snapshot e-Newsletter
  • Snapshot Publishing Dates

ML Team

  • Writers Workshops
  • Content Policy
  • Staff Payment System
  • Join the team

Social Media

Follow us on our pages!

Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn Pinterest

Copyright © 2022 Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved. All articles, photos, graphics and images on this site remain the copyright of Muslim Link, unless otherwise noted, and should not be copied without prior permission. Designed by Eye Media Solutions
Top
Copyright © Muslim Link. All articles, photos, graphics and images on this site remain the copyright of Muslim Link, unless otherwise noted, and should not be copied without prior permission. 2022 All rights reserved. Custom Design by Youjoomla.com