The Zayed Sports City ADCB 5&10k Run series returned to Abu Dhabi this week with its highest ever number of participants taking part to date as 648 people descended onto the track for Friday morning’s event, helping to raise a total of AED 35,000 for the Special Care Centre, Abu Dhabi.
The event brought the community together at the popular sports facility, with motivated runners including children, young adults, couples and companies descending onto Zayed Sports City to test and challenge themselves for a good cause.
Steve Watson, Abu Dhabi Strider’s Race Director, said: “These races offer a great platform for avid runners to prepare for major events, such as marathons or half marathons; but we encourage everyone to participate.
“This is a family-friendly event for everyone – families with buggies, kids, adults and seniors – from all walks of life coming together to challenge themselves and lead a healthier lifestyle while supporting a good cause.
“The Special Care Centre has been providing education to intellectually and physically challenged children in Abu Dhabi since 1989 and it really makes us proud to be able to support the great job they are doing.”
Open to people of all ages in the UAE, the event is committed to establishing itself as a platform to encourage families to exercise, and as an ideal way for running novices to take up the sport, with runners as young as six taking part.
Ed Nicholas, who runs with the Abu Dhabi striders, took part in the event with his nine year-old son: “The Zayed Sports City run is a great way to stay healthy and fit. I enjoy running with my sons because it is encourages a more active lifestyle and gives us the opportunity to do something together. It is more fun for them to run with me and more fun for me also.”
Many taking part in the event use the 5k series to benchmark progress before completing Zayed Sports City’s 10k run.
Peter Dicce, 10 years old, said: “All I want to do is become the best runner in the world. My next step is probably to run the 10k. Maybe five more 5ks and I will be ready.”
Building on last year’s success, which welcomed more than 1,500 runners and raised more than AED 90,000 for charity across the series, event organisers are now gearing up for the third round of the series, which will be held on March 7 at Zayed Sports City.
Registration is now open for the March 5&10k run. To register online visit www.premiermarathons.com; alternatively people can register at the Saucony store in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. For more information visit: www.zsc.ae
