The UAE weather is currently so amazing and there is so much on offer through the Dubai 30×30 that it seems a shame to be inside. So endeavor to embrace outdoor Dubai as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge: from running to triathlon to lots of free yoga, including this weekend at Yogafest.
Find your zen
Embrace the outdoors and find your zen with Yogafest. This weekend event runs November 15-17 in Dubai Internet City Amphitheater. You’ll find everything from vigorous flows that will get your heart rate up to more serene meditation circles. It all kicks off on Thursday at 7pm in the meditation tent. While the entire event is completely free, the healthy food and trendy yoga accessories are not.
Make Monday (November 19) better with FitnessInDXB’s free yoga at 5.30pm. And if you’re a man with a moustache? Mark Saturday, November 24 in your calendar, as Fairmont The Palm is giving away a free full moon yoga for all men with facial hair. Ritual Cosmetics will even be giving away a Ritual of Samurai gift for the guys.
Run for women
Ladies, this one’s for you. Whether you like to run, are big into empowerment, or simply want to celebrate all things female, the Dubai Women’s Run makes a great morning out. On Friday November 16, strap on your shoes (pink is totally optional) and head out for a 5km or 10km jog. You’ll be joined by around 10,000 other ladies pounding the pavement around Dubai Festival City. For the incredibly fast, there’s a Dh5,000 prize up for grabs.
Release your inner warrior
If running under the blistering sun, climbing mountains, crawling under barbed wire, sprinting through water and jumping over fire sounds like your idea of a great weekend, you’re in luck. The XDubai Spartan Race is back for another year, bringing its wild challenges to Hatta on Friday November 16. Courses range from a ‘mild’ 5km option with 20 obstacles up to a whopping 13km with some 25 obstacles.
Advanced athletes can run in the elite group, while the more chilled among us can opt for the general, but still grueling, open heat.
If your family and friends are coming down to help celebrate once the challenging race is done, there’s a festival area with food and drinks, giveaways, music and mini obstacle challenges.
Go extreme or just play
Known as the UAE’s most trying triathlon, the Super Sports Triathlon isn’t a race for the faint of heart. For this epic race, starting at 8am on Friday November 16, you’ll sprint up steep hills, swim through the scenic Hatta Dam and bike across Generator Hill. The Olympic distance racers have the added challenge of some 20 percent of the triathlon run on hard compact gravel — everything else is on tarred roads. To help lighten the load, split the challenge with two of your closest friends and make it all a relay.
The more mild runners among us might prefer Dubai Parks and Resorts Fun Run. On November 17, this free 8km race lets you run through the Indian film paradise of Bollywood Parks and jog past the stackable adventure of Legoland. When the race is done, grab yourself a ticket to some seriously fun rides.
Featured photo courtesy XDubai Spartan Race
