“Starting to run at Get Running was a really good decision,” says Jawad Ahmed. “I was working behind a computer all day, which isn’t good for your health. And I really wanted to make some more social connections.” In October, he hopes to run the ASML Half Marathon.
Jawad Ahmed is a software engineer from Pakistan. Four years ago, he came to Eindhoven with his wife for a job at Signify (formerly Philips Lighting). “It’s nice work, but you spend a lot of time sitting at your desk looking at a computer screen. I get a check-up every year to build up a medical history here: blood, cholesterol, liver, kidneys, that sort of basic data. I saw my health declining every year, so it was high time to get moving.”
Last year, he saw an advertisement on social media for a beginner’s running course in the run-up to the ASML Marathon in Eindhoven, a project by Get Running in collaboration with Eindhoven Sport. He spontaneously decided to sign up. “I was actually just a little too late and ended up on the waiting list. But fortunately, a spot opened up after all, and I was able to get started.”
The beginning was very nerve-wracking. “I was awake hours before the first training session. But it all went smoothly. Great training sessions with a good structure, and a friendly group. I felt very welcome from the start and immediately made nice connections.” To conclude after eight weeks, he and his fellow participants ran the City Run (5 km) on Saturday. “That was quite an experience, very stimulating with so many participants and all those people watching and cheering on all the runners.”
Later that year, he ran 11 km at the Urban Trail, and he subsequently decided to become a member of Get Running and continue running. “Running has also made me more aware of my eating habits. The effect is clearly visible at the medical check-up. I am already healthier now than before I came to the Netherlands.”
But for him, it is certainly not just about the physical effects. “Membership in a club like this helps me learn Dutch – the fellow runners are forgiving when I make mistakes and correct me in a friendly way,” he laughs. “And through all the conversations and stories, I learn a lot about Dutch culture and customs, which helps me with my integration.” In his enthusiasm, he has already referred two fellow Pakistanis to running. “And I will continue doing so,” he assures.
Jawad Ahmed and his wife, who works in logistics, are therefore becoming quite integrated and settled. They now have a two-year-old daughter and bought a house in Tongelre.
He is also making progress with his running and is now part of the faster group of advanced runners at Get Running. Of course, the ASML Marathon in Eindhoven is on the planning again. This time, he hopes to run the Half Marathon.
