Back to Dubai Marathon Information & Reviews
Peter Dodsworth from Beckenham, Kent, England
(3/9/2004)
"Hot and Lonely" (about: 2004)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 After living in the Middle East for 5 years, I decided to run my first marathon. Not being a natural runner, I found the training tough, but stuck to it. I completed the flat course in 4hrs 36min 14sec. The heat really picked up at the two hour halfway mark (9am) and the intermediate (2.5k) stations had run out of water! Dehydration hits hard in the winter sun. A lack of runners (350 in field) and lack of spectators makes for a lonely run. However, spirits are lifted in the final 400m with the mini-grandstand of spectators to cheer you home, as their attention is all on you due to the small field! Poor quality t-shirt and medal though and still awaiting the certificate! | |
D. J. from Dubai, UAE
(4/28/2003)
"Flat course, minimal spectatator involvement" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Fast flat course taking in most areas of interest in the city. Water stations reguarly placed and well attended. No race expo, poor quality T shirt and medal. Vey few spectators on route but well marshalled by police. Gets warm as morning progresses. | |
A Runner from Saudi Arabia
(4/15/2002)
"My first Marathon" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 As I was entering my 50th year I thought that it was about time I ran a Marathon....As I work in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I was used to the heat and I had been running in shorter distance runs. I trained fairly well and made the trip to Dubai to coincide with a vacation in Oman. I met a couple of people I knew from Saudi at the start and off we went on a wonderful clear morning. The course was very well laid out, with the traffic police doing a great job!!.I finished in 3h16m, and was completely knackered!!...but it was a great run.Pity about the T shirt!! | |
Klaus Germer from Singapore
(1/26/2002)
"I will come again" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This is one of the small marathons where you get to chat with the people you pass (or who pass you), everything is cozy and by the end you think you know all participants. The course is flat and fast, drinks (no food) are a-plenty (if somehow irregular) and for me, who has lived in Dubai some ten years ago, it was a good way to see the places I knew from before. Only bitter pill, like in many of the small runs: They don't seem to get the marking right - what is so difficult about marking the distance correctly? - But all in all it was a great run and the special atmosphere of the orient was felt, if you had the time for it... |
Quick Links
Marathon Search
Upcoming US Marathons
Upcoming International Marathons
Search Marathon Results
Latest Running News
Recent Newsletters
Race Director Tools