There’s so much going on at the Dubai Fitness Challenge – particularly on the weekends – that it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some events and activities to explore Friday and Saturday.
HIIT and yoga
DFC ambassador Lilly Sabri will be hosting two core-focused HIIT classes this weekend at Kite Beach, one on Friday, November 2 at 11am and the other on Saturday, November 3 at 1pm. Or catch up with MrAndMrsMuscle – aka Vivienne and Mike Addo – at DIFC Gate Village on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 to 9pm.
Fitness brands are also getting involved with some seriously cool events. Steph Mulet is running a free yoga session in partnership with Roxy at the Dubai Marina Mall at 5pm Saturday. Two-time cover model Gbemi Giwa has an afro-fit class with Reebok, 4 to 5pm Friday, again at Dubai Marina Mall.
Kids and teens
Help your little ones work up a sweat this weekend with two fun, free activities at Fitness HQ, Umm Sequiem Road, from the kids-focused company, FutureFitDXB.
“Children develop and learn best through play,” explains Kirsteen Thain, Dubai co-founder of GetFitChick. “And it’s important to instill good healthy habits as early as possible, as it’s setting up the foundation of their bodies for the rest of their lives.”
FutureFitDXB’s kids program is aimed at children five to 10 years old, with obstacle courses, games, skill work, sleds, tires, monkey bars and more. The teen program targets 11- to 15-year-olds, focusing on strength training, fun challenges, aerobic conditioning and skill work.
“It’s usually during the teen years that active kids separate from the inactive ones,” says Thain. “Now is the time to allow teens to enjoy being active, all with positive reinforcement.”
In the swim
Head to Jebel Ali waterfront on Friday, November 2 for the annual Dubai International Triathlon. Spectators are welcome, while competitors are invited to try their luck at a 1.5km swim, 80km cycle race and 10km run.
If you’re more a swimmer than a triathlete, check out the amazing Daman DXB Swim at Jumeirah Beach Hotel on Saturday. This family-friendly event is aimed at amateur swimmers, so even if you’re new you won’t be a fish out of water. Also 20 percent of your ticket price goes to charity.
Let’s hear it for the ladies
Gals, it’s time to throw on your pink and get ready to sweat in the name of sisterhood. This weekend, the Pink Ladies Games 2018 invites women down to Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort in teams of three to five to compete across a series of obstacles.
The whole event is to support The Pink Caravan breast cancer charity, with a solid 20 percent of ticket entries going toward the organization. As for the inspiration behind the theme? It’s based on the United Nations Sustainable Development goal number five, which is about empowering women and girls and achieving gender equality.
If pink polo is more your thing, you’re in luck. Pink Polo Day is returning on Friday, November 2 in an effort to help raise awareness of breast cancer in the region. Held at Ghantoot Polo and Racing Club, this event also offers family-friendly activities, awareness lectures, medical examinations, free health checks in the pink clinic, pink surprises and more.
Fitness tech
Fitness pros and those into the science of fitness can head to the MeFitPro summit at Fairmont, The Palm, where there are some 80 seminars on everything from animal flows to rock tape.
“This year we have some incredible speakers, such as MoveU from the US and Mark Carroll from The Clean Health Fitness Institute in Australia,” says Gary Barnett, MeFitPro marketing director.
Make sure to book in quickly for the MoveU‘s Andrew Dettelbach and Dr Mike Wasilisin. With 688k Instagram followers, they’ll get booked up quickly.
• The Dubai Fitness Challenge runs at venues across Dubai until November 24.
Featured photo courtesy Lilly Sabri
