Abu Dhabi: The three-week countdown has begun to one of the ‘standout’ triathlons of the UAE’s sporting calendar — TriYAS by Daman’s ActiveLife.
With the Friday, February 26, starting date now firmly in sight, those in charge of TriYAS have revealed the swimming, cycling and running maps for the sixth edition of the race.
For the fourth consecutive year, National Health Insurance Company — Daman is supporting the Yas Marina Circuit event as part of its ActiveLife initiative.
Commenting on the company’s involvement, Dr Sven Rohte, Chief Commercial Officer, Daman said: “Daman is glad to be the main supporter of the award-winning TriYAS for the fourth year in a row. TriYAS is one of the best sporting experiences in the UAE. It is a great opportunity for those who trained at Daman’s weekly ActiveLife events at YMC such as TrainYAS and StartYAS to measure their performance and gauge the improvement in their fitness levels.”
“Even if you did not have much training, the Sprint category is great for beginners, offering the right challenge for your first triathlon. The young ones can take also participate with the returning KidsTRI, an experience that only few high-calibre sports events provide for children. We hope that everyone participating this year for the first time continues to participate in different health and fitness events that we regularly support at this iconic F1 circuit,” he added.
Hundreds of participants, many of them fully immersed in the official eight-week TriYAS training programme, can now visualise their route around Yas Marina and Yas Marina Circuit (YMC).
The maps — available on the official YMC website — reveal routes for both the Olympic category, featuring a 1,500-metre swim (two laps of the swim course); 40-kilometre bike race (seven laps of the Formula One track); and 10-kilometre run (two laps of the track and Yas Marina); and the shorter Sprint category, involving a 750-metre swim (one lap), 20-kilometre bike course (four laps of the F1 track) and five — kilometre run consisting of one lap of the circuit culminating through the Yas Marina before finishing in the village.
Also announced is key race information, including parking arrangements, swim starting times, bike racing and processes.
“Being able to see the maps and to plan out your race is an important psychological step for participants,” said Nick McElwee, Sales & Marketing Director Yas Marina Circuit. “Competitors will start to feel a tinge of nervous excitement as we enter the month of the race and the route is now mapped out in front of them. We have had added enhancements to previous years with entertainment on the running course and more hydration stations to ensure motivation and safety remain high for participants.
More than 30 first-time triathletes are among those halfway through the official TriYAS training programme, held in locations throughout Abu Dhabi, including Yas Marina Circuit, Haddins Gym and Saadiyat Island.
But McElwee stressed that it isn’t too late for individual adults and kids, as well as larger groups, to register to take part.
“We expect TriYAS to sell out soon, but there are still places available,” he added. “It’s not too late for people to get mentally and physically prepared for the race. As we’re always keen to point out, participants must set their own personal goals depending on their ability level.”
To register for TriYAS, visit www.yasmarinacircuit.com
For more information on the wide range of activities and events, visit: www.yasmarinacircuit.com.
