Dubai race organizers have ruined their race. It's apparent from the changes were made only out of logistical convenience rather than participant preference. In sum, they decided to replace a … MORE
Dubai race organizers have ruined their race. It’s apparent from the changes were made only out of logistical convenience rather than participant preference. In sum, they decided to replace a fast & flat course along the spectator-lined Jumeriah Beach coast with a race in the middle of nowhere (completely abandoned Dubai Expo City) where you run up several long, gradual grades on an 8-lane highway with ZERO spectators for 30km. The finish is better, with a fair amount of spectators, but marathoners have to weave in and out of hundreds of 4km race walkers for the last 1km since they share the same finish line. All three of us ran personal worst times. Hardly any electrolyte drinks offered, small bottles of water, and ZERO food along the course. Many other complaints as well (no expo, race medals handed out 1 km from finish line, nothing more than a cookie offered at finish, the list is never-ending) just a disaster of a race. Why Dubai cannot create an awesome destination-type marathon, perhaps a night race, which starts at the Marina and finishes at the Burj Khalifa is beyond me. So many runners would pay a huge premium to take part in an event like that.
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Awful, awful, awful, awful . . . . . .
Dubai race organizers have ruined their race. It's apparent from the changes were made only out of logistical convenience rather than participant preference. In sum, they decided to replace a … MORE
Dubai race organizers have ruined their race. It’s apparent from the changes were made only out of logistical convenience rather than participant preference. In sum, they decided to replace a fast & flat course along the spectator-lined Jumeriah Beach coast with a race in the middle of nowhere (completely abandoned Dubai Expo City) where you run up several long, gradual grades on an 8-lane highway with ZERO spectators for 30km. The finish is better, with a fair amount of spectators, but marathoners have to weave in and out of hundreds of 4km race walkers for the last 1km since they share the same finish line. All three of us ran personal worst times. Hardly any electrolyte drinks offered, small bottles of water, and ZERO food along the course. Many other complaints as well (no expo, race medals handed out 1 km from finish line, nothing more than a cookie offered at finish, the list is never-ending) just a disaster of a race. Why Dubai cannot create an awesome destination-type marathon, perhaps a night race, which starts at the Marina and finishes at the Burj Khalifa is beyond me. So many runners would pay a huge premium to take part in an event like that.
Good as starting point and PB. Excellent
Excellent destination and nice weather. Dubia is the hub of the middle east. Through the race, we can easily recognize the outstanding support by the organizing committee. Food and water … MORE
Excellent destination and nice weather. Dubia is the hub of the middle east.
Through the race, we can easily recognize the outstanding support by the organizing committee.
Food and water supplies are everywhere to the extend that you don’t have to worry about it. Entertainment is in evercorner and running angeles are surrounding you.
I strongly recommend it for frist time runner and people who wishes to improve their PB time.
Flat course but not very interesting
Dubai is a nice city with a lot of interesting buildings. But, the race organizers have opted to have the race on a flat, fast course without much scenery. Perhaps, … MORE
Dubai is a nice city with a lot of interesting buildings. But, the race organizers have opted to have the race on a flat, fast course without much scenery. Perhaps, if the race grows in size, they will decide to show off more of the city.
top organised, lacking atmosphere
Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon was exactely what I expected. A perfectly organised race with big screens, set up seating area to cheer the top athletes in the finish area but … MORE
Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon was exactely what I expected. A perfectly organised race with big screens, set up seating area to cheer the top athletes in the finish area but lacking a bit in cheerful, runners supporting atmosphere. Saying that, I have to add that the organisers tried hard to improve that and I m sure it will get better over the years as the race grows. A friend picked up my BIB saying that it was a plain pick-up no real exhibition/ vendors.
Race day: The top elites started one hour before “the crowd runners” started. The course is very flat and definitely good for best times if you are adjusted to the temperatures which are usually mild but somewhat hot if you come from a European/ North American winter. The start was close the Mall of the Emirates. Runners were facing the coast where the first 12k were a loop to the North and after we got back closer to the finish area two loops of about 14k in the southern direction followed. These “2nd and 3rd” loop were more crowded by running clubs and spectators since you had the chance to see everybody passing by twice. The course was along the Burj Al Arab, some Mosques and shops. Sufficient water supply along the course and mint conditions of the roads. In the end, I can not complain about anything in particular about the race- but I didnt have an emotional binding/ felt anything special about the race if I had not met some of my runners friends there that live in Dubai. And for them I would go back every year to run it again.
Exotic race to prepare running season.
What's better than Dubai Marathon to start the year !!! For a European like me, this is really the right place to run a marathon in January. Temperature is mild … MORE
What’s better than Dubai Marathon to start the year !!!
For a European like me, this is really the right place to run a marathon in January.
Temperature is mild with this start at 6.30 am at the end of the night. The heat will come later but the sea breeze will make it bearable.
The organization is flawless and cosmopolitan atmosphere among the runners and spectators is unique, even if we are far from “Marathons Majors and Popular”.
The start and finish will have the backdrop, the emblematic “Burj Al Arab Hotel.”
Only downside to this ordeal, the monotonous nature of the course with only four corners and two lines of 20kms.
Change of scenery, however.
A joy to run a race in Dubai
The race was carried out extremely well and there were good aid stations. The course itself was as exciting as a race in the desert could be. A friend texted … MORE
The race was carried out extremely well and there were good aid stations. The course itself was as exciting as a race in the desert could be. A friend texted during the race and said– do you see any camels? Her text was funny to me as at the time I was running by the Dubai Zoo… otherwise we just pretty much ran through the streets of Dubai. So fun to do such an exotic race and it was as cool as it could be, but still hot. It felt like running a race in FL with less humidity.
My Very First Marathon
This was my very first marathon and was not sure of what to expect. I just wanted to prove to myself that I could run 42.195km. I have since gone … MORE
This was my very first marathon and was not sure of what to expect. I just wanted to prove to myself that I could run 42.195km.
I have since gone back to run the race a second time and I guess that gives the race a pass