Together We Ran: Muslim Runners at the 2025 London Marathon
“It’s been so inspiring to be around people who understand me – my lifestyle, my values, my challenges.”
This year’s London Marathon was more than a race, it was a celebration of purpose, resilience, and community. For Muslim Runners, it marked another unforgettable chapter in our story of representation, faith, and movement.
From our Race Week activations; including community shakeout runs, recovery yoga, our buzzing Mile 25 cheer station, and the post-race celebration dinner, to the powerful moments shared on the course itself, this week reminded us why we do what we do. Because community matters. Belonging matters. Seeing yourself in these spaces matters.
Our runners showed up with heart and strength, and together, we’ve now raised over £80,000 for Charity Right UK, helping feed children in Palestine and beyond. Your miles made a difference. And we’re incredibly proud of every one of you.
“This is what representation looks like.”
For our founder, Haroon Mota, the 2025 London Marathon was his 11th finish of this race. Reflecting on his journey, he shared:
“When I first ran London in 2012, I hardly saw any Muslims or people of colour on the course. It was rare. That’s why they once called me ‘the Muslim Marathon Man’, and back then, it felt like a badge of honour. But over time, that label faded. And I’m glad it did. Because it should never feel strange or special that Muslims run marathons. It should be normal. And now, it’s becoming normal.”
With over 35 marathons under his belt, Haroon has spent the last 13 years pushing boundaries and breaking stereotypes. But the work is far from over.
“London Marathon Events are doing more to engage communities, and it’s powerful to see. But there’s more to be done. I’ve started moving toward mountain and trail races now, because the diversity gap there is even wider. I hope my personal journey helps open more doors, just like it did for road running. We’ve come a long way, but we’re just getting started.”
Part of a Global Moment
This year’s London Marathon was also a record-breaking event, with 56,640 finishers, officially earning the title of the largest marathon in history. Muslim Runners were proud to be part of that story, bringing visibility, joy, and faith to every mile.
“There’s a stark difference between my first marathon and what I see now. You can’t turn your head without seeing a Black or Brown runner. That’s progress. That’s change. But more work is yet to be done.” — Haroon
Support the Movement
Muslim Runners is a grassroots, volunteer-led initiative. We don’t receive core funding, but we believe our work is creating real, lasting impact.
If you’d like to support our mission, partner with us, or help grow our inclusive running community, we’d love to hear from you:
👉 Donate to support our work
👉 Get in touch about partnerships
What’s Next?
Feeling inspired?
If you’d like to run next year with Muslim Runners, applications open Friday 2 May 2025. Entry is not guaranteed, and a shortlisting process will apply, but we’d love to hear from you.
Final Word from the Community
“Being part of Muslim Runners made a huge difference in my journey. It’s been so inspiring to be around people who understand me – my lifestyle, my values, my challenges. Training during Ramadhan this year was tough, but being in this supportive community helped make it manageable.”
— Dr Thuha Jabbar, 39, Dentist from London
To everyone who joined us this week, whether you ran, supported, fundraised, or simply showed up, thank you. You are the movement. Together, we run with purpose.
