Welcome to Islamabad Run With Us (IRU), Pakistan's first running community club since September 2016. Our mission is to foster a vibrant culture of fitness and wellness by championing running in the dynamic twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and their vicinity.
Islamabad Run With Us (IRU) was created with the intent of creating a running community that supports and encourages a healthy and active lifestyle through group events and participation.
The main aim of the community is to foster and bolster a running culture in Islamabad and its neighbouring cities. Islamabad is a city of highly educated people who understand the importance of fitness in life. All they needed was a platform which could motivate and guide them in a proper direction. IRU provided that platform through this running community!
The group was established in September 2016 by Qasim Naz, Hashim Naz, and Naveed Ur Rehman, who were also running enthusiasts. Over the course of 8 years, the group has grown tremendously, and our recent group runs have attracted more than 10,000 runners, including people of all ages and genders.
The group operates by organising 04 weekly group activities on every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday. We aim to explore different running routes in Islamabad, including the beautiful trails of Margalla Hills and its majestic roads. We tend to cater for runners of all capabilities and make sure that no one is left behind during our group runs. Our club's more seasoned runners are always available to assist and advise newcomers on how to approach their running in order to prevent short / long-term burnout and injuries. We do not charge any of our members for participating in our runs.
As the founder of Pakistan’s first running community, I am incredibly proud of how far we’ve come. When we began, there was no established running culture here, but with the passion of a dedicated, like-minded community, we’ve built a thriving movement that’s growing stronger every day. Together, we are creating a healthier, more active future for everyone.
- By Qasim Naz (Founder of IRU)
In our eight-year journey, IRU has proudly hosted over 650 free community group activities, including runs and hikes, fostering a strong, active community. We were also the first to bring a full-fledged, community-driven, international-standard Marathon, Duathlon, and Trail Half Marathon to Pakistan. Events like the Islamabad Marathon, Islamabad Duathlon, and Margalla Hills Half Marathon have inspired thousands to embrace running, building a vibrant community around this shared passion.