Everyone’s a winner in first ‘Marathon at Home’
dubai — Dubai has had many firsts to its name and continues to push the boundaries. The city has always set new standards and a benchmark for others to follow.
And perhaps, in these times of the global coronavirus pandemic too.
Most of the planet may have been forced into a lockdown with people staying in the confines of their home. But the UAE and Dubai came up with something very innovative, something truly out of the box, to help keep its residents safe at home, yet be fit at the same time.
Dubai held the world’s first ‘Marathon at Home’ and while Iranian duo Morteza Naseri and Mona Sharbaf Tabriz took the honours in the men’s and women’s segment respectively, it goes without saying that each and everyone of the 750 runners from 62 nationalities who participated, were winners.
The race, a full marathon covering the distance 42.195km, was part of the Dubai Sports Council’s ‘Be Fit, Be Safe’ campaign, and was held in collaboration with ASICS Middle East and 5:30 Run club.
Naseri completed the distance in three hours and 24 minutes, with Dubai-based Italian Valerio Sciamannetti coming in second in a time of three hours and 26 minutes. Abas Kavousi, who was also competing from Iran, finished third with a timing of three hours and 31 minutes.
The women’s section saw Mona being the fastest, clocking three hours and 59 minutes.
Ireland’s Gillian Clarke, who lives in Dubai, finished second in four hours and 15 minutes, while Russia’s Bakunovich clocked four hours and 37 minutes.
“Running will never be the same again,” said Bakunovich, about the experience.
“I wasn’t very much impressed about the idea to run a full marathon at home. I assumed it’s quite artificial. Besides, there are two of us, we run at a different pace and we are supposed to do this in our living room.
“However, I decided to give it a go! And absolutely loved it! Loved every step I made, process and especially that feeling of accomplishment of something extraordinary and novel. It definitely brought me back to life after all these days spent inside,” she added.
The Marathon at Home took place between 8 a.m and 6 p.m on Friday and saw participants from around the world, including countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Belarus, South Africa, India and Jordan.
Apart from a finisher medal, the top three in both categories got a full running gear kit by ASICS, an entry ticket to the Moscow Marathon, which takes place in September.
Runners who placed in the top 10 received 10 EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) functional training sessions from Vertexfitness.
Others didn’t go empty-handed with every finisher receiving a certificate from ASICSME and 5:30 Run, an ASICS t-shirt and a finisher medal.
I loved every step I made, process and especially that feeling of accomplishment of something extraordinary and novel
Bakunovich