- 24 days after starting from Abu Dhabi, Al Suwaidi nears end of challenge
- As he gets closer to the Great Mosque of Makkah, his spirits and capabilities increase
RIYADH – An Emirati runner who kicked off his challenge to run to the Grand Mosque in Makkah on February 1 is only 340km away from reaching his target, Gulf News reported.
Dr. Khalid Jamal Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, ECSSR, entered Makkah region on Sunday.
On Wednesday, he became only 296km away from the Grand Mosque.
Getting closer to Makkah, Al Suwaidi said his spirits and capabilities have increased, feeling he is able to complete this unprecedented challenge despite all the difficulties he is facing.
He added that he is trying with all his strength to increase his daily average run to reach the Great Mosque on the planned date or even before.
In a feat never attempted before, Al Suwaidi will have traveled 2,070km to Makkah through continuous running and walking.
In 2017, an Indonesia Muslim walked more than 9,000 kilometers to perform hajj.
In 2012, 47-year-old Bosnian Muslim, Senad Hadzic, reached the holy city of Makkah on foot to perform hajj.
During his journey, the Muslim man walked for nearly 3,600 miles (5,900 km) from his Bosnian village to the holy city of Makkah.
Muslims from around the world pour into Makkah every year to perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, and umrah.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can financially afford the trip must perform hajj at least once in a lifetime.
