YASSIN KRIDIH 

Yassin Kridih, who will soon be turning 19, is an athlete at Hässelby SK who dreams of running the 100 metres in the Olympics. He lives in Tensta and, after being introduced to the Running Academy in Husby, he immediately got hooked on running. He found new friends, met talented leaders who gave up their time, and was sparked by constantly being able to feel that he was developing. He realised that running was his thing and, when the next Running Academy programme came around, he felt that he wanted to take the next step: he became a junior leader and instead coached other young people who wanted to learn to run. After making a success of this, he quickly set the next goal for himself – he wanted to compete. He now trains and competes at Hässelby SK, and is working hard in order to achieve his dream of competing in the Olympics and becoming as good as his role model, Usain Bolt. 

“Winning gold medals is my long-term dream, but I also have another dream around the corner that will soon be coming true – to finally go to Mecca,” says Yassin. 

Religion means a great deal to Yassin, and his great role model in life is the Prophet. Ramadan is sacred and, as a runner whose goal is to win competitions, not training during the month is not an option. Yassin has a clear mindset and fasting does not affect this. 

What is your view of training and fasting during Ramadan? 

“First and foremost, you have to understand why you’re fasting. We fast to become a better person, a better Muslim and to get rid of our bad habits. Fasting and Ramadan should make us appreciate what we have,” says Yassin. 

“When it comes to training, there are two things you have to consider: not to exhaust yourself, and to achieve a balance. Ramadan and fasting also teach you both patience and discipline, as well as developing your character in a positive manner. For me personally, it would be wrong not to fast if I can. It gives you a better chance of becoming a better person – so why wouldn’t you take that chance,” he continues. 

When we talk about how Yassin trains and fasts, and whether he has any special routine, he highlights several aspects. The first thing he mentions is the importance of planning and establishing a schedule for yourself, so that you can get into a routine more easily regarding your training. In Yassin’s own schedule, he always trains before Iftar. He eats a lot when the sun sets, but smartly, and he also drinks lots of water. 

“If you draw up a schedule and stick to your routine, you can do much more than you believe. Your body is stronger than you think,” he says. 

Have you always known what to do – or have you previously had difficulty finding information about how to best combine fasting and training?

“It’s become a little more difficult now that I also have to think about my body. Nowadays it’s important for me to do things in the right way so that I don’t wear out my body. But this has mostly been a matter of trial and error. I have neither searched for nor found that much information, rather I have tried things out and talked to friends who also fast to find out what they do,” says Yassin.

In recent years, while Yassin has been working out his approach regarding training and fasting, he has started doing a number of things that work for him and that he is happy to share as tips for other physically active Muslims, who may struggle with this during Ramadan.

• The most important things are sleeping, eating, drinking and exercise – these help the body to feel good.
• Draw up a schedule for both training and rest.
• Don’t put too much strain on your body, but slow down a little.
• If possible, try to move your training times to the afternoon.Rest both before and after training.
• Train your mindset. Your attitude is crucial. 

We continue talking about what coaches should be aware of regarding Ramadan and what it’s like to fast and train. Yassin maintains that it would be good if more people had a greater understanding of this. He tends to talk to his coach about the period, so that together they can come up with an arrangement that works, although he and his friends have also come across coaches and teachers who have not taken the situation into account. 

“If you choose to fast, both teachers and coaches should respect your choice. But that’s probably not always the case. For example, I have a friend who was forced to go to lunch a few years ago. If more people had been curious and wanted to learn more about Ramadan, everyone would have benefited from it and they would also have been able to help more effectively,” says Yassin.

Our conversation ends with community and memories. Yassin says that Ramadan is a fantastic period and that it is wonderful to see people gather and socialise together. The sense of community is an important form of support and also makes the month go faster, he concludes. 

Follow Yassin Instagram, @yassin.kd