Fresh from taking second position at last weekend’s TriYAS, Egyptian triathlete Omar Nour is encouraging people of all ages to now set their sights on the more light-hearted challenge of the Color Run.
Taking place at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit on March 29, the Color Run provides a fun-filled alternative to the UAE’s gruelling fitness event calendar with a vibrant assault on the senses.
With no winners or official times, the five kilometre event is a unique celebration of health, happiness, individuality and giving back to the community.
“The Color Run is unlike any other event in the UAE. It’s all about having fun and inspiring people to get involved and take up a healthy, active lifestyle,” says Omar Nour, Egypt’s first professional triathlete and ambassador of Color Run organiser Daman’s Activelife.
Omar was motivated to enter his first triathlon in 2007, after battling issues with his weight for the majority of his life and realising that he needed to recommit himself to a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
After a meteoric rise throughout the amateur ranks, the aspiring Rio 2016 hopeful turned professional in 2010 – a feat that has since been met with steady progression of race results that has allowed Nour to build a cult following in the UAE.
The triathlete added: “Having transformed my own life through sport, I felt drawn to the Color Run because it provides a rare, unpressured platform to kick-start a new healthier, happier life.
“The Emirates are full of challenging, hardcore fitness events, which are perfect for me, but are not for everyone. It felt incredible to be surrounded by all different types of people having so much fun at the Color Run in Dubai.
“The atmosphere was exhilarating and that’s what I can’t wait to see again in Abu Dhabi this month.”
The successful Dubai edition saw Color Runners aged from as young as one through to 73 years old being doused from head to toe in multi-coloured powder as they jogged, walked and danced their way round the course in December 2013.
Dr. Sven Rohte, Chief Commercial Officer of Daman, Presenting Sponsor of the event, said: “The Color Run is one of a series of events that Daman takes part in with an objective to mobilise the community and encourage them to get active.
“We are excited that our Activelife brand ambassador, Omar Nour, will take part in the event as he is living proof that anyone can turn their life around, and a true inspiration to make healthy lifestyle changes and set personal goals.”
Participants can sign up at www.thecolorrun.ae/abu-dhabi with entries closing at 5pm on Saturday 22nd March, 2014.
Entries cost AED140 and include a Gift Pack, an event t-shirt, sweatband and color pack.
In keeping with the Color Run's tenet of giving back to the community, $1 from every registration will be donated to charity through Just Giving.
To give you an idea of what the event is all about, check out the highlights from Dubai in the video below.
