A Marathoner Who Runs in a Hijab Covers Women's Running Magazine

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Women's Running Magazine Puts Marathoner in Hijab on Cover

posted on: Sep 24, 2016

Rahaf Khatib

BY JULIE MAZZIOTTA

People Magazine

Women’s Running just broke down another barrier – the magazine features Rahaf Khatib, a Syrian-American Muslim woman who wears a hijab,on their October cover.

Khatib, 32, is a six-time marathoner who documents her training and celebrates other Hijabis – Muslim women who cover everything but their hands, feet and face for modesty and in accordance with their religion – on her Instagram account,@runlikeahijabi.

“I feel like [other] covered women maybe are hesitant to get out of their comfort zones,” Khatib tellsWomen’s Running. “Maybe it’s a lack of apparel out there; maybe it’s all the negative press about Muslim women.”

Rahaf Khatib

The mom of three first stepped out of her comfort zone in 2012, when she signed up for her first race, a local 10K.

“I crossed the finish and instantly felt euphoria,” she says. “To have done this was a huge accomplishment in my book.”

Rahaf Khatib

That led her to sign up for more and more races – half-marathons, marathons and more – but she was bothered by the lack of other Hijabis. Khatib hopes that her Instagram account will “defy stereotypes and encourage my Muslim sisters.”

Khatib says she still gets questions from other runners about her hijab – “Don’t you get hot?” – but she doesn’t let them bother her.

Rahaf Khatib on the cover of Women’s Running

And she welcomes the questions.

“If you see anyone who looks like me, please don’t rely on your assumptions,” Khatib says. “Ask them questions. Smile and offer a nice word.”

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Women's Running Magazine Puts Marathoner in Hijab on Cover

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