Ready, set, go: a rundown of this year’s races and fitness events
Winter in the UAE marks the beginning of the region’s sporting season – and this year, it promises to be an action-packed line-up.
Here’s a look at some sporting events that are on the horizon, to get you motivated.
Hero Dubai Hatta
The spectacular mountain bike race attracts participants from more than 40 countries. Cyclists can choose between a 60-kilometre (two loops) and a 30km race on the Hatta course, and can enjoy rugged desert views. A Hero Dubai Kids race will take place on the same day, on a dedicated route inside the Hatta Mountain Bike Trail Centre. It is open to children between the ages of 4 and 14. Friday, October 29; 7am onwards; Dh110 for children and Dh130 for adults; Hatta; www.heroworldseries. com/#hws-registration
Halloween Run
The family-friendly Halloween Run is back at Dubai Festival City Mall. Don your most ghoulish (yet comfy) costumes and lace up those shoes. There are distances of 1km, 2.5km and 5km, and participation medals for all, as well as sweets for the children and a prize for the best costume.
Saturday, October 30; 6pm onwards; Dh125 per person; Dubai Festival City Mall; www.raceme.ae/event/ the-halloween-run/
Dubai Ride
One of Dubai Fitness Challenge’s most popular events, Dubai Ride gives cyclists a chance to experience the city’s best roads on two wheels. Participants can choose either a 14km general route around Sheikh Zayed Road or a 4km fun ride with family and friends around Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard.
Friday, November 5; free; registrations now open at www.dubairide.com
World Triathlon Abu Dhabi
Some of the world’s best athletes will descend on the capital for the World Triathlon Championship Series Abu Dhabi. This year, the World Triathlon Para Championships has been added to the event schedule and will welcome 122 elite athletes of determination. The race format will include nine sport classes of para triathlon competing in six medal events per gender. Alongside the elite race, the two-day triathlon
event will also host a variety of races for amateur triathletes. With several race categories on offer – covering triathlon, duathlon and single discipline events – the event is open to all abilities, from first-timers to professionals.
Friday and Saturday, November 5 and 6; prices are from Dh75; Yas Island; abudhabi.triathlon.org
Al Marmoom Dune Run
Organised by the Dubai Sports Council, Al Marmoom Dune Run will take place in the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. Plenty of incredible desert vistas await in this 5km race that takes participants around lakes, and across hard ground, sand and dunes. There are two race categories: elite (for those who can finish in under 50 minutes) and open (under 1 hour 30 minutes). Friday, November 12; 7am onwards; Dh150 for ages 15 and up; Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve; www.ultramarathon.ae/ almarmoomdunerun/
Jeep Tough Mudder
The world-famous obstacle race course – known for testing the foundations of teamwork and community – is back, with three events coming up.
Jeep Tough Mudder will take place in Hatta on Saturday, November 13, Abu Dhabi’s Al Hudayriat Island on Friday, December 10, and Fujairah Adventures Park on Friday, January 28. Mudders can expect a return to many of its popular challenges including the Pyramid Scheme that requires teamwork to scramble up a slippery slope, Spread Eagle, a tightrope challenge over water, and the Cage Crawl, in which participants cling overhead to keep moving over 152 centimetres of water.
There will be two course routes to choose from: the Jeep Tough Mudder 5K, which includes more than 13 obstacles on a 5km route and the Jeep
Tough Mudder Classic, which has 25-plus obstacles on a 10km route.
November 13, December 10 and January 28; entry from Dh257 for Tough Mudder 5K, ages 13+ and Dh312 for Tough Mudder Classic; toughmudderarabia.com
Expo 2020 Dubai Run
A new – and once-in-a-lifetime – event coming to Dubai’s race calendar this year is the Expo 2020 Dubai Run. It will take participants across the World’s Fair pavilions and allow them to admire the stunning architecture on foot. There will be 3km, 5km and 10km routes, and all participants will receive free entry to Expo 2020 for the run day, a custom T-shirt, medal, goody bags, chip timings and a digital certificate. Friday, November 19;
7am onwards; from Dh50; Expo 2020 site; www. premieronline.com/event/ expo_2020_dubai_run_5562
Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon
One of the biggest events on the UAE sporting calendar is back again. This year, it will feature expanded age categories between 6 and 70. Families can sign up for the 2.5km or 5km runs, while there are more challenging 10km, full 42.2km marathon races and – new for the year – a marathon relay for teams of two. Winners of the elite men’s and women’s races take home $50,000 (Dh183,000) while there’s a $30,000 (Dh1,10,000) prize for those who break the course record of 2hrs:04min:40sec for men and 2:21:01 for the women. All runners aged 16 to 70 must be vaccinated, while those under 16 will need a negative PCR test, taken 48 hours before the event.
Friday, November 26; Dh350 for marathon, Dh550 for marathon relay, Dh150 for 10km run, Dh75 for 5km run, Dh50 for the not-times 2.5km run; www. adnocabudhabimarathon.com/ register-now/
DFC Santa Run
Now in its third year, the Dubai Festival City Santa run is back to make sure everyone has a jolly good time. There will be three options for the untimed run – 1km, 2.5k and 5km. Participants get a finisher medal and a prize for the best costume.
Friday, December 10; 8.45am; Dh125 plus VAT; www.raceme. ae/event/dubai-santa-run/