THE HIGHWAY TO HEALTH
INAUGURAL DUBAI 30X30 RUN SEES OVERWHELMING TURNOUT
Shaikh Zayed Road turned into a sea of fitness enthusiasts as 70,000 runners took part in the inaugural Dubai 30X30 Run yesterday. |
Seventy thousand runners took part in the inaugural 5km and 10km Dubai Run along Shaikh Zayed Road on Friday.
Spearheaded by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, the run was part of the third edition of the month-long Dubai Fitness Challenge that challenges people to do 30 minutes of exercise for 30 days from October 18 to November 16.
Shaikh Hamdan said, “Today marks a milestone in our mission to make Dubai the most active city in the world — together as one society. I commend the enthusiasm and energy of our people and I am proud of how the people of Dubai — across ages, nationalities and abilities — have come together to create such an inspiring event.
“Congratulations to all those who accepted the challenge. I am confident that you will encourage even more to join over the coming days and make DFC 2019 our most successful edition yet.”
Dubai Metro ran a special service from 4am and Shaikh Zayed Road was shut in one direction for two hours.
Kicking off at 6.30am for the 5km run and 6.40am for the 10km, participants ran ran up Shaikh Zayed Road and came off at the first interchange to either encircle Dubai Downtown Boulevard for the 10km or to come back down Happiness Street for the 5km.
Moroccan national Samir Jouaher won the men’s 10km in 27 minutes and 44 seconds, while Ethiopian student Refref Mohammad won the women’s 10km in 36 minutes, 45 seconds.
Prizes worth Dh200,000 were distributed among the winners.
Determined to run
Even those recovering from serious illness decided to give it go. Stroke patient Ashok Desai, 52, completed the 5km run. “After suffering a paralytic stroke in April this year, I could not have imagined, I would be able to do this,” he said. “But my doctors at Rashid Hospital gave me timely help and all my symptoms reversed. I feel incredibly blessed that I am in a place that cares about people’s health,” he added.
Others brought their children along in prams, like Filipina Veronica Van Aardt, who brought her one-year-old Maria along for the ride.
“The morning feels so bright and enthusiastic,” she said. “I wanted to be part of it so I brought my daughter along as well.”