Best sport to help you ace Dubai Fitness Challenge

Are you game for tomorrow’s 52-floor run?

Tower running might just be the perfect sport for those looking to complete the Dubai Fitness Challenge, according to two-time Dubai Holding Sky Run winner Piotr Lobdonzinski.

“It’s a very easy sport to take up because almost all people here live or work in high rise buildings,” said the 34-year-old Pole speaking to Gulf News ahead of tomorrow’s stairwell race at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, which is part of the monthlong challenge to complete 30 minutes of exercise for 30 days.

“You can train and compete in an air-conditioned climate, all you need is shorts, T-shirt and trainers, and it doesn’t take that long, so it’s the perfect sport for those living in big cities who don’t have much time on their hands.”

Lobdonzinski won the past two editions of this event, which will see 450 people run 265-metres up 1,334 steps over 52 floors from 7am. He also holds the track record of seven minutes and 9 seconds.

“I’d compare it to rowing,” he said of its difficulty

rating. “The blood lactate levels are very high and it affects all muscle groups, not just your legs. Over a flat distance you feel good for 70 per cent of the race and then struggle with the last 30 per cent, but with this it’s the opposite, after the first 30 per cent you start to suffer and then for the last 70 per cent you have to fight your mind and push hard not to give up before the finish.”

Britain’s Sarah Frost, 26, another of the elite runners, of which there will be 18 this weekend, added, “It’s also a very low impact sport because you are going against gravity so spend most of your time not actually running but walking very fast.”