Between the Starting and Finishing Line

Member spotlight: Halah Alenizi

This month’s Al Jalees winner, Halah Alenizi, is someone who quietly challenges herself, both on the page and on the road.

Drawn to Al Jalees for “the positive vibes and the readers themselves,” she says what keeps her coming back is simple: how she feels during and after the discussions. Outside of running, she writes, reads, and practices square Kufic calligraphy. Her bookshelf leans toward history, philosophy, and mental health. She is currently reading an Arabic book on mental health alongside The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday.

For Halah, reading has never been passive. Since childhood, she has analyzed characters — how they respond to challenges, what shapes their decisions, and what she might do in their place. “Reading has added years to my life,” she says. “It hasn’t only added to my knowledge.”

Perhaps that is why her reflection on the Riyadh Marathon feels less like a race report — and more like a life meditation. In her own words, Halah wrote the below reflections.

“Run Halah, for there is life in running!”

This is what I told myself while running my first 10K.

I used to think that participating was simply about training, running, and crossing the finish line. But I discovered that the real experience lives somewhere else — in what happens between the start and the end.

Here are the lessons I learned during my participation in the Riyadh Marathon — lessons that may help you in achieving your own goals:

1. Every beginning has an end — but endings are different.

We all started from the same line. Some gave up. Some achieved personal bests. Some stopped due to health reasons. Some simply wanted to complete their first race, regardless of time. I was one of them. I focused on the joy and the challenge itself. But next time, I will aim for a better record.

2. Your path is your own. Compete with yourself.

Some runners overtook me. Others I overtook. That’s life. Someone may graduate before you. You may reach your dream before someone else. What matters is that you are moving forward on your own path. Your first competitor is yourself.

3. Patience and pacing matter.

The start was tough. I even wished my route were easier. But by the grace of God, I completed it. Speed is not constant. Sometimes you run fast. Sometimes you jog. Sometimes you walk. Life is the same. When I looked ahead and saw the distance, I asked myself, “Can I really run all this?” I had to quiet the discouraging voice inside me. I made it by moving step by step.

4. Pain and obstacles are part of the journey.

I cannot tolerate the sun’s heat, and even mild weather felt difficult. But I found solutions — a white cap, the shade of trees. At one point, I felt tightness in my foot. I slowed down, afraid it would worsen. When I tried to stop, the pain increased. So I kept going — carefully. That’s when I realized: sometimes stopping hurts more than continuing. Other times, a temporary pause gives you strength. You must assess and decide.

5. Refuel and surround yourself well.

Don’t neglect your need for energy — physically or mentally. Being part of a group was incredibly motivating. The chants, the laughter, the emotional connection made it lighter. In life, we need others, and they need us.

6. The finish line changes you.

Near the end, I ran faster than I had at any other point. I forgot the pain when I saw the finish line ahead. As they say, “Pain is temporary, and pride is forever.” At the finish line, I realized I had not only achieved a goal — I had conquered myself.

For Halah, the marathon mirrors how she approaches life. It was a new experience — and she has always been drawn to stepping outside her comfort zone and trying new things. When asked what mindset motivates her most these days, she paused before answering. Then she said she is guided by the idea of leaving an impactful legacy.

In many ways, that is what both running and reading offer her: endurance, reflection, and the courage to move forward — even when the distance feels uncertain. And perhaps that is the connection between the road and the reading circle. Different paths. Same discipline. Same growth. Congratulations to Halah Alenizi — our monthly winner — for reminding us that sometimes the greatest victory is not at the finish line, but in the decision to keep moving.