Dubai: More than 850 athletes will take part in the Third Nad Al Sheba (NAS) Sports Tournament 10km run at the Falcon Heritage Centre in Meydan on Friday night.
Starting at 10pm, the runners will make their way past the Meydan Hotel and make a loop to head back towards the finish line at the NAS Sports Complex. Roads leading towards the race route will be closed by 9pm and motorists are advised to use alternate routes.
There will be two misting stations along the route — at the 5km and 7.5km marks — in a bid to keep the runners cool.
“In addition, we will have four water stations every two kilometres to allow athletes to keep themselves hydrated during the run,” Stewart Howison, Race Director, told Gulf News.
Last year’s race attracted nearly 600 athletes from across the UAE and beyond, with Aziz Mustafa of France taking top honours in the open category in a time of 29mi 39sec. James Kibet of Kenya came in second and Jala Bogora Mummen of Djibouti third.
In the open women’s category, Ethiopians Emebet Belew Adane and Belainesh Yami Gurumu finished first and third, either side of Frenchwoman Latif Al Sarooj.
This year’s race includes categories such as elite male for police and armed forces personnel, international male and female, expatriate male and female and Emiratis.
“There will be a full-fledged athletes’ village at the finish line at the NAS Sports Complex, with runners getting to indulge in hydration stations, a recovery station offering protein shakes, a fully-equipped massage centre, air-conditioned lounges, ice baths and therapy zones,” Howison added.
