Where do we go for a walk?

Sharjah: I have seen many tracks being provided in Dubai for the residents to walk or jog, when trying to lose weight or adapt a healthy lifestyle. But, being a resident of Sharjah, I am very disappointed that there is a lack of jogging or walking tracks on the streets or in parks.

To go for a walk or a run, we either have to use the pavements or visit a park that is crowded. Additionally, to enter any residential public park in Sharjah, the park will demand a special card that is issued by the Sharjah Municipality. This membership card is used by us as a permit to enter any public park and costs around Dh15.

Sharjah has focused a lot on women-only parks, but even in those there are no jogging tracks. This is a serious issue, but I haven’t seen anyone raising it. So, I thought to at least give it a try; maybe the Sharjah Municipality will work on it.

The high obesity rates in the country will lead to further health problems in the future. I have seen many women going for a walk on the street in residential areas or in a park, but they get tired in a few minutes because it’s not comfortable. Many women want to go out, and I am sure if there were proper walking paths in various places, they would start walking more often.

Even though I am living in Sharjah, I have to drive to Dubai if I want to go for a jog. I think the long stretches of jogging tracks are much more comfortable to walk on and perhaps better for our bodies and posture, too.

Running on hard ground is not right. But, sometimes when I am tired, I know that I have to sit back at home without a walk, than to walk on the street with my abaya on and several people watching me. This hesitation stops me from losing weight or being healthy.

Where should a woman go for a walk without feeling uncomfortable? Are there any safe platforms for us to lose weight? Or do we just have to sit at home and gain weight and fall prey to different diseases?

— The reader is based in Sharjah.

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