Amateur athletes run to the hills for UAE trail running event

A group of about 50 amateur athletes took to the rocky hills near Showka Dam early yesterday as part of an effort to make trail running a more popular sport in the country.

Lee Harris, the founder of Dubai Trail Running Group, said The North Face Trail Running Event was organised to advocate the joys of running in natural surroundings. “We want to try and get more people out here and show them the trails. The UAE has such a great outdoor life with the deserts and the trails, which go on for hundreds of kilometres,” he said.

“You are not tied to the city and I want people to realise that. You can come out and have an amazing time in the middle of the mountains. It is good for the body and good for the mind.”

While there are official trail races in other countries in the region – such as the Wadi Bih Run in Dibba, Oman – this is believed to be the first of its kind in the UAE.

At 5.30am, most runners were stretching and gearing up for the 12.5-kilometre course, while a handful of ultra-fit runners were taking on a 25km run.

Reshma Beeranthbail and Roohi Hamlani said they were excited to take part in the 12.5km run and have fun. “I’m not sure how long it’s going to take us, it really depends on whether we stop to take pictures,” said Ms Beeranthbail. “I’ll probably be one of the slower ones, but we’re basically doing this for fun, it’s not a race.”

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Amateur athletes run to the hills for UAE trail running event