Hakima moves for confidence
“My favourite part about running is the burst of energy I get afterwards.”
Hakima began running in grade 9 as a newcomer to Canada and discovered a practice that strengthened her mental health and self belief. Running became self care, community, and a way to feel more comfortable being visibly Muslim in spaces where she does not always fit the expected image.
For Hakima, physical activity is not only about fitness. It is a foundation for mental health and a way to build confidence in being comfortable with who she is.
As a practicing Muslim woman, Hakima says she experiences daily external pressures that others who are not visibly practicing may not face. Running helps her strengthen her mental health and stay grounded, especially in spaces where she might not fit social norms. “I use physical activity to strengthen my mental health and to build confidence in being comfortable with who I am,” she says.
Her relationship with running began in grade 9, when she was still new to Canada. She joined two classmates and teachers to raise funds for a social cause they cared about. Hakima remembers that she ran without proper running gear and did not finish near the top, but the feeling afterward stayed with her. “I felt great,” she says, and she says that same feeling returns at the end of each run. Even after an extremely tough day, running becomes reassurance. It reminds her to continue and not give up on what she is working toward.
During the pandemic, strengthening mental health became an even more important reason to stay active. Hakima describes the shift from being socially connected to suddenly being without external social circles. That isolation brought waves of feeling down and made it easier to fall into discouragement. She still chose to run. “I would go out and run anyway knowing that I will feel better afterwards,” she says.
At the beginning, she reduced the frequency of her runs because she was concerned for her health and the health of others she passed. When she did run, she wore a mask, which made breathing more difficult. She also had to adjust to running outside through winter, since she usually ran indoors during colder months. Over time, as she learned more about how the virus spread, she became more comfortable returning to a regular schedule. Working from home also created unexpected space. Without a commute, she had more time to run.
Hakima’s runs are intentional. She starts with light stretching and leg work, chooses a guided run for the day, and sets a goal based on distance, duration, or speed. Before she begins, she sets an intention to herself as a signal that the run has started. She finishes by walking to calm her breathing, then carries the energy into the rest of her day.
That burst of energy is one of her favourite parts. “My favourite part about running is the burst of energy I get afterwards,” she says. “It motivates and encourages me to be better and do better,” she says.
Running also brings community in small, steady ways. Hakima believes sport can break barriers. “When running I say good morning or hello to people walking on my route, who I would not talk to if I’m on a casual walk,” she says. She also values the brief exchanges runners share when they pass each other. “There is that small exchange of words or head nod that makes you feel belonged to a larger community,” she says. “At that moment difference between us disappears,” she says.
Faith is part of what sustains her commitment. “My faith has been an important inspiration for maintaining a self care regimen,” she says. She explains that in Islam, anything that harms the body is discouraged or forbidden, including harm that comes from living a sedentary life. She also believes that caring for herself makes her more capable of showing up for community and making the impact she wants to make.
Hakima also names a challenge that still appears sometimes: self doubt in competitive environments. As a woman running while wearing a scarf, she occasionally receives judging looks that make her feel as though she does not belong. When that happens, she brings herself back to her own pace and her own intention.
Hakima’s story is simple and steady. Running gives her energy, strengthens her mental health, and builds confidence in being fully herself.
Hakima moves for confidence.
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