A fair run
5,000 take part in 4th Dubai Women’s Run
dubai — “Once I’d crossed the 4 kilometre mark, there was a sudden surge of energy and it feels very empowering when that happens,” said 27-year-old Milna Antony, Indian national, who completed the Dubai Women’s Run on Friday.
“Every runner knows this. It’s addictive, it’s empowering, and once you’ve completed a run in a set time, you want to beat your own record,” she added. The race was run by several veteran runners as well as first-time runners.
A little over 5,000 women participated in the fourth edition of the Dubai Women’s Run, which took place at the Meydan Race Course.
The race was flagged off at 7am by three-time world half-marathon champion Kenyan Tegla Loroupe. Under the patronage of the UAE Athletics Federation and Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the race was held in two categories — 10km and 5km.
Race director Liesa Euton said that the race has gotten bigger over the last four years. “This race is one of the several things that are aimed at creating a nation of active women while making fitness in sports an integral part of daily living. While our core target is women and girls, it would give a much better sense of achievement to see the entire community being part of this initiative,” said Euton.
“The race is a special moment of all women as it brings about a sense of solidarity among participants. It is truly wonderful to see so many women belonging to different parts of the world, and different sizes run to the finish line... (You get) the feeling of empowerment as you’re about to accomplish what you thought you would never before. The exhilarating feeling as you are about to cross the finish line and people you don’t even know cheering you on. That will definitely make me run again,” said first-time runner and another Indian national Shermeen Pradeep Kumar (25).
Katie F. said: “This is my fourth race. I took part in the Standard Chartered 10km last year and I can proudly say that my time has improved since then.”
A part of the funds raised from the races will go to Breast Cancer Arabia, with winners in the 5km and 10km races walking away with a prize money of Dh10,000 each, while the second and third-place finishers took home Dh7,000 and Dh5,000, respectively.
Zsofia Erdelyi of Hungary and Elena Korobkina of Russia won the 10km and 5km races, respectively. Erdelyi clocked 33 minutes, 15 seconds ahead of Kalayu Yeshi Chekole of Ethiopia in the 10km run. Gladys Jemaiyo from Kenya came third finishing at 33 minutes and 54 seconds, and Natalya Popkova from Russia came fourth, finishing at 34 minutes and eight seconds.