The UAE are no strangers to holding aquathlon events with many community races held throughout the year.
And given its popularity in the country, the multi-discipline sport, which features swimming and running, continues to attract athletes of different ages and abilities.
Organiser Race ME has set three different distances: Super Sprint, Sprint and Olympic for different age groups.
Super Sprint, ideal for those who are new to the sport, consists of a 500m swim and 3.66km run and is open for 10 and above, while the Sprint (1,000m swim and 6.66km run) is for ages 15 and over.
For those who want to test themselves, the Olympic for ages 18 and above is a 1,500m swim before running 10km to the finish line.
With the series now in its third year, the event has gone from strength to strength. And Race ME’s Paul Venn insists this weekend’s aquathlon will be another success.
“We held our first one of the season just earlier this month and it went really well indeed,” he said. “We had a wide range of people turn up; some who’ve never done the sport and some who were on holiday in Dubai and that is very encouraging.
Athletes can pick from three distances on offer with Super Sprint, Sprint and Olympic.
“We had around 75 people in the opening race and we expect that number to increase to possibly 100 on Saturday April 16.”
He added: “One of the new things that people will notice is that we’ve increased the distances. The swim has been extended by 500m and so has the run. That is to do with feedback from the participants.
“In the UAE, people prefer to do things long. The Olympic distance is the most popular distance out of all and is very common.”
With the UAE hosting many events, Venn ranks this aquathlon race as among the best.
“I think in terms of atmosphere and difficulty level, it’s one of the best races in the country,” he said. “I’m not just saying that because I’m from the organising committee. My daughter is 11 years old and took part and she loved it. That is proof it really is for the whole family.
“What’s more, it’s in a fantastic location and breakfast is included in the entry price. It’s a perfect start to the morning.”
What: Ashurst Aquathlon Race Two
Where: Jebel Ali Golf Resort, Dubai
When: Saturday, April 16, from 06:30
Contact: For more information and to register, visit www.premieronline.com
