Tri Ramadan

So, Ramadan has arrived. For those who’ve never lived in an Islamic country, you may well wonder how it affects the lives of us non-Muslims living here.

Initially, I have to admit, my first Ramadan was a bit of a culture shock but once you’ve been through it once, it makes very little difference. In fact, it’s like many things in Dubai – people back in the UK often ask me what it’s like: ‘Hey, is it true you’d be arrested for walking down the street with a can of lager?’ Well, yes, but how many times do you walk down the street with a can of lager in the UK? Unless you’re a student or a tramp.

What I mean is that all the things you need to consider for Ramadan seem consequential, but they rarely make that much of a difference. Essentially, non-Muslims can’t eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours. So, most cafes and restaurants are either closed or have a giant blind they pull down. Our workplace is pretty western (as are most here) and, therefore, we allow water and coffee to be drunk at desks but ask that people eat in the kitchen area…as they do all year! At home, do what you want – fill your boots.

Bars and restaurants can’t serve alcohol until sunset. Although, to be fair, that happens at around 7pm…if you can’t wait till 7 for a drink, again, you’re probably a student or on your way to a life on the street. Bars can’t play music or entertainment during Ramadan which makes the atmosphere a little odd, but then it’s the height of summer and hardly anyone goes out at this time of year anyway.

But Ramadan does, of course, affect the active. Gyms are fine – it’s understood that it’d be dangerous for people to workout without fluids and, so, these are simply sort of ‘no go’ areas for Muslims during daylight hours.

But what about me? I like to do as much of my training as possible in the great outdoors. Well, evening sessions are fine – it’s dark by the time I get home from work and head out, so it’s (sweaty) business as normal. Mornings are more problematic, as sun-up tends to happen around 5.

Swimming is the easiest discipline to deal with. Even though the water is cooled you definitely still need to drink during the session. Even in water, swimmers lose about half a litre of fluid in sweat during a one hour session. But my masters club is pretty western and, like the gym, it’s a case of don’t come if you don’t like what you’ll see. Cycling and running are less easy though, as they happen out there in the real world, so you can’t control who’s looking.

For the weekly long ride, it’s a case of hydrating beforehand and then grinning and bearing it until we get out of town, then it’s pretty safe to drink away as normal until we head back into civilisation…unpleasant, but doable.

Running needs to be cannier – and I’ll probably head to Safa Park to do laps. It’s around 3.5km around the outside of the park and there’s public toilets on either side – I’ll carry my drinks bottle and just have to dive into the toilet quickly each time I pass to take a swig! Which won’t look dodgy at all.

I also think the gym will be seeing more action when it comes to the shorter bike/run stuff. On the positive side, once this week is over (I’m really busy in work) it’s down to Ramadan hours (9-4) which means more relaxation, visualisation, stretching and prep time…or maybe more time lying on the couch watching Spaced DVDs.