It is highly recommended! I arrived in on the Tuesday night. Got up at 5am after a few hours sleep to go running.. Did 10k or so to get into the time zone/eating early etc.
That day, went to pick up the number from a hotel; great atmosphere, sharing a lift with the Ethiopian elites!
The next morning, started the day early again and ran a few miles with some strides.
we went out for a full day trip to the East Coast... Ate some great food on a beach, the came back for an early night.
didnt pan out..the hotel was a nightmare; the room was above a nightclub.
didnt get any sleep...got up at 4am after a max of 2 hrs sleep..I was really worried I might die as never run a marathon before and I felt seriously sleep-deprived after 3 bad nights and the time difference.
The atmosphere sat the race was amazing..fog kept the temperatures down ( 15 degrees at start)..
The Dubai Marathon has been won in very quick times the last 3 years... with 5 people sub 2:05.00 in 2013, which was first time ever in history I believe.
I'm running this one too. Dubai definitely wants the WR and they'll put $1m in the pocket of whoever achieve this.
I'm a plodder hoping to scrape under 4hrs for 2 reasons - 1/ my first 2 attempts blew up so I'm hoping the flat course will help and 2/ the 4km run starts at 11am and I don't fancy getting caught up n all that
Comments
not done it, but I'm thinking about it too
I did Dubai this year.
I combined a 3 day mini break with the Marathon.
It is highly recommended! I arrived in on the Tuesday night. Got up at 5am after a few hours sleep to go running.. Did 10k or so to get into the time zone/eating early etc.
That day, went to pick up the number from a hotel; great atmosphere, sharing a lift with the Ethiopian elites!
The next morning, started the day early again and ran a few miles with some strides.
we went out for a full day trip to the East Coast... Ate some great food on a beach, the came back for an early night.
didnt pan out..the hotel was a nightmare; the room was above a nightclub.
didnt get any sleep...got up at 4am after a max of 2 hrs sleep..I was really worried I might die as never run a marathon before and I felt seriously sleep-deprived after 3 bad nights and the time difference.
The atmosphere sat the race was amazing..fog kept the temperatures down ( 15 degrees at start)..
The race was great; flat as a pancake.. Was great for concentrating on pace..
This was my first marathon so unsure about how I would feel. Took it easy for the first 32k only after then I started to increase the pace.
Finished in 2:57, felt I could have gone a lot quicker..
Was a good race... Not too many people, but great support along the course.
If you haven't been to Dubai before; it's worth a visit, even if just to be awed by man's architectural achievements.
Tim
thanks Tim, good info!
Cheers, really helpful.
Anyone signing up for 2015?
I'm in for 2015.
How good was the 2014 medal?!
A general open question to all!
The Dubai Marathon has been won in very quick times the last 3 years... with 5 people sub 2:05.00 in 2013, which was first time ever in history I believe.
Do you think we will see a sub 2:04.00 in 2015?
Is it a World Record course?
That's what Dubai wants, another world record. Can't remember exactly but there's a serious amount of $$$$ for the record.
For sure Dubai wants it!
Surely a sub 2hr4.00 is possible in 2015?!
It seems to be a course that is getting quicker every year... maybe it could eventually attract faster athletes and be quicker than Berlin.
SP14
The course has been changed to get the record, it's boring along the beach road with only two turns and no elevation.
I believe they modified the course prior to last years marathon ?
I'm not sure if they are due to make further modifications before the 2015 start.
Has to be one of the flattest along with Rotterdam. I don't think they will get the record unless they can pull in the top Kenyans as well.
I see bakeile is racing so could get interesting world record wise.
I'm running this one too. Dubai definitely wants the WR and they'll put $1m in the pocket of whoever achieve this.
I'm a plodder hoping to scrape under 4hrs for 2 reasons - 1/ my first 2 attempts blew up so I'm hoping the flat course will help and 2/ the 4km run starts at 11am and I don't fancy getting caught up n all that