6,000 Runners Join Green Spirit Run in Al-Balad

Around 6,000 Saudi citizens and residents laced up their running shoes on Friday, September 18, 2026, for the Green Spirit Run, a community race that wound through the historic streets of Al-Balad in Jeddah as part of Saudi National Day celebrations.

The event offered two distances: a 5 km course for professional and amateur runners, and a shorter 2 km route designed for families and children. Both routes passed by well-known landmarks across Historic Jeddah, giving participants a chance to experience the district's heritage on foot.

The race was organized by Masafat Club in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports, the Saudi Sports for All Federation, and Jeddah Historic District. The mix of competitive and family-friendly distances reflected the organizers' aim of encouraging people of all ages and fitness levels to take part.

Why it matters

Community runs like this one have become a familiar feature of national celebrations, combining physical activity with a shared sense of occasion. Holding the race inside Al-Balad, one of the Kingdom's most recognizable historic quarters, connected the spirit of the day with the area's cultural identity.

With thousands of residents and expatriates joining in, the Green Spirit Run underlined the growing role of accessible, family-oriented sporting events in Jeddah's community calendar and the wider push to make regular physical activity part of everyday life.

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