Between mosque and track: Mahamed Mahamed’s meticulous program in Morocco

Mahamed Mahamed, one of Britain’s best marathoners, has settled in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco to prepare for the London event. In Ifrane, the 28-year-old runner faces a major challenge: maintaining a high-level training block while strictly observing the sacred month of Ramadan.

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While aiming to improve his personal best of 2:07:05, the athlete has chosen to ignore suggestions to postpone his fast. According to the BBC, Mahamed prefers to take on this dual demand, stating that this spiritual discipline has become a routine to which he is perfectly accustomed. A nighttime preparation between faith and performance

The setup in Ifrane allows him to train safely under the floodlights of the track once night falls. His schedule is meticulously planned: a first session at 4 pm, followed by breaking the fast and a visit to the mosque, before returning to train, sometimes until 1 am.

"Ramadan is the most important thing for me," the marathoner confides. He explains that this period of food and drink deprivation during the day strengthens his concentration and helps him better understand his own abilities. This rigorous management includes waking up at 4 am for a final meal before dawn.

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Fourth in the all-time British rankings, Mahamed is part of a new generation of highly successful long-distance athletes. After the London appointment in April, the runner, who finished fourth in the 2024 edition, aims to win a medal at the European Championships scheduled for this summer in Birmingham.