Hatta ready to host XDubai Spartan Race for first time

Sport360 staff 16:36 17/10/2017
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  • 5000 Spartans will test their resilience in in the XDubai Spartan Race.

    Hatta will come alive on November 10 with the cries of more than 5,000 Spartans as they take to the rugged hills, testing their resilience in the XDubai Spartan Race.

    Organised by Spartan Arabia and Dubai Sports Council (DSC), and sponsored by XDubai and Dubai Holdings, this will be the first Spartan Middle East Championship with more than Dh183,000 on offer in prize money.

    Hatta has been chosen as the venue not just for its challenging and diverse terrain, but also to promote the region as per the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who announced a Dh1.3 billion comprehensive development plan for Hatta in November to enhance the social and economic capabilities of the region, and to boost its attractiveness as a sporting and tourist destination.

    “We have enjoyed a long and solid relationship with Spartan Arabia, dating back to 2015 with the very first Spartan Race in the region, which took place here in Dubai at the Jebel Ali Race Course,” said Abdulla Binhabtoor, general manager of XDubai.

    “Since that time, working closely together we have built a strong proposition through the XDubai Spartan Race, widely recognised amongst athletes of all abilities, all across the region.

    The event is organised by Spartan Arabia and Dubai Sports Council.

    The event is organised by Spartan Arabia and Dubai Sports Council.

    “Now, thanks to the support of Dubai Holding, we are looking forward to elevating the Spartan Race even further this November with the first Middle Eastern Championship, and the first race of its kind to be held in Hatta.

    “As a race of firsts, it will also fittingly take place during the very first Dubai Fitness Challenge, allowing both elite and amateur athletes alike to challenge themselves to achieve their very best during this very important Emirate-wide initiative.”

    There will be six races on the day, with the Championship Beast male and Championship Beast female races kicking-off the proceedings at 7.30am.

    The Spartan Beast involves negotiating a challenging 23km terrain with about 35 obstacles along the way. Obstacles typically include climbing seven-foot walls and rope ladders, crawling under barbed wire, running with weights and jumping across fire pits.

    The Championship Beast races are only open to Spartans who have finished in the Top 20 of an Elite Race in the past and there is a prize purse of Dh 183,000 on offer in this category, with the winners of the male and female races taking home Dh 18,000 each.

    While there will be no cash prizes on offer in the Elite and Open categories of the Spartan Sprint races, there will be plenty of goodies, like Finisher Medal and Finisher T-Shirt on offer, and, of course, bragging rights will be at stake as well.

    The Spartan Sprint is open to racers of any fitness levels, shape and sizes. Newbies can opt for the open races, while the more advanced Spartans can try the Elite race, which is a 5km to 7km race with around 23 obstacles on the course.

    There will be a Spartan Junior race as well – a 1.5km run in the mud for 4-14 years old, with around 14 obstacles on the course.

    It will be the first Spartan Middle East Championship with more than Dh 183,000 prize money on offer.

    The Spartan Sprint is open to racers of any fitness levels.

    “Spartan Arabia has, to date, enjoyed three thrilling seasons in Dubai and the Middle East with the ongoing support of our regional title sponsor XDubai, as well as Reebok – the Global Outfitter of Spartans,” said Bader Khalaf the Regional Operations Manager of Spartan Arabia. “And for the Hatta race, special thanks to Dubai Holding for sponsoring this event.

    “We also have to send our regards to all the governmental agencies, especially Dubai Sports Council as they have always shown their support for all the sports activities in the community.

    “We are now getting ready for the first-ever Middle East Championship and it will indeed be an epic race as Hatta offers outstanding scenery and different terrains, which give this race its unique character and makes it challenging, and yet equally rewarding for our participants, who will be travelling from near and far to visit Hatta onNovember 10.”

    To sign up for the challenge, visit the www.spartanarabia.com website. On the day of the race, participants need to arrive at least an hour in advance to complete the pre-race formalities and carry their Emirates ID with them as it will be required for the Liability Certificate that needs to be submitted by every participant before the start of the race.

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