RUNNER PUTS BEST FOOT FORWARD FOR 40-DAY TREK FROM ABU DHABI TO MAKKAH
▶ Emirati will face many challenges on 2,070km run dedicated to martyrs of the Arab Coalition fighting in Yemen
An Emirati hopes to inspire UAE residents to follow in his footsteps as he prepares for a 40-day run from Abu Dhabi to Makkah.
Khaled Al Suwaidi, 34, an academic specialising in international relations, shed almost 50 kilograms in three years after lacing up his running shoes to get fit.
In February, Al Suwaidi, now a trim 72kg, completed a 327-kilometre run from Fujairah to Port Zayed in Abu Dhabi.
He took on the challenge to raise awareness about the work of the Cancer Patient Care Society, a patient support group established by his father.
Now he is going a step further by planning to run 2,070km from the UAE to Saudi Arabia to inspire others to get “out of their comfort zone” and honour the martyrs of the UAE and the Arab Coalition in Yemen.
“Running for 40 consecutive days to Makkah will be a great challenge,” said Al Suwaidi, who plans to run 50km a day.
“The danger of physical collapse is a real possibility because the road will be through desert terrain, changing temperatures and vast tracts of land without any people living there.
“There will also be animals, some of them dangerous, so I have to be ready. All these factors are potential challenges, so it is not only about developing my physical abilities to cope but also the mental strength that will be required.
“The psychological readiness to overcome the dangers and unexpected surprises is something I have to prepare for.”
Al Suwaidi will carry the flags of the UAE and Saudi Arabia during the run.
“This run is considered an expression of appreciation of the ties between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as for the noble role of the two countries in defending security, peace and stability in the Gulf,” Al Suwaidi said.
The decision to change his diet
The danger of physical collapse is a real possibility ... there will also be animals, some of them dangerous KHALED AL SUWAIDI Academic and runner
and take regular exercise came after he became a father and doctors said he was at high risk of diabetes.
Al Suwaidi trains an average of seven hours a day, starting with two hours of running from 5am and continuing after work for a further two hours. Regular gym sessions will help to prevent injuries. Other preparations include a diet heavy in natural grains and proteins, and plenty of fruit, vegetables and water.
That diet has already helped Al Suwaidi set an impressive milestone of running for 182 consecutive days, clocking up 5,850km since he changed his life. He now hopes to show that others can follow his path.
“This initiative comes as a request to the youth of the UAE to leave their comfort zone and train themselves to meet the challenges of life,” he said.
“Young people can unleash their inner powers to achieve their great potential. I have stressed this idea in many of my lectures and meetings with students and young people. I’ve talked about my own experiences with obesity and how I have overcome those problems.
“My life has changed from someone who was threatened with diabetes due to being overweight in 2015 to someone who can accomplish great achievements in the Arab world.”
A recent World Health Organisation report found that almost half of the UAE’s residents were not completing the recommended weekly amount of exercise.
Almost 50 per cent of women and 39 per cent of men are not doing the 150 minutes of exercise a week that helps lower the risk of developing lifestyle-related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.