Burj2Burj Half Marathon

21.1km of road between the Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa set the scene for the first ever Burj2Burj Half Marathon event. I had timed my trip to the UAE so that I could have a crack at this half mara, and what an experience it was! A decision to run this was one that I made on a whim, but glad I did. I'll go through what the Burj2Burj is like, and perhaps convince you to run it the next time you're in Dubai!

About Burj2Burj 👟

The 21st of January 2024 marked the first ever Burj2Burj event, a half marathon that has been introduced to Dubai. The Dubai Marathon is another big event on their running calendar, since 1998. Burj2Burj, as the name suggests, uses 2 of Dubai's iconic landmarks - the Burj Al Arab & Burj Khalifa, as your start and end points respectively, with the route straight and flat between the 2 points. Key points along the route include:

• Um Suqeim Street - the start point of the race, with the Burj Al Arab gracing the backdrop.
• Jumeirah Beach Road - the majority of the half marathon takes place along this route, with some views of the Arabian Gulf.
• Big Flag (Union House Flag) and Etihad Museum - further along Jumeirah Beach Road, you'll pass by a few of these sites.
• Sheikh Zayed Road - the final section of the course leads you under the Burj Khalifa, where crows await.

Training 🏋️

Being completely honest, I didn't really do any training for Burj2Burj 🙃. Having been on the road travelling through 3 countries prior to arriving in the UAE, I had kept myself active (through hiking, walking, surfing, swimming etc), but no specific running training. I was fortunate that my base level of fitness is quite good, having trained hard for the Melbourne Half Marathon in October, and run 140km for Movember. My goal for this race was not about getting a PB, but rather enjoying the route and taking in the views 😎 - hence I wasn't worried about the lack of training.

That being said, I think the Burj2Burj route is very ideal to hit a new PB on, with a very straight, flat course and ideal running temperature in January. Hence if you did train hard for it, expect some good times on the course!

Race Day 🏁

As we were running along Dubai's main roads, to minimise disruption (and avoid the hottest part of the day) we set off at 6am. That meant I was up at 3am, allowing me enough time to make my way to the start line, use the bathroom, and warm up properly. What I always love about race day is that no matter what time you have to be there, the vibe and atmosphere is always bouncing ⚡. Excitement was definitely in the air, and I could feel the adrenaline creeping into me.

Soon after the start line, you pass by the Burj Al Arab and head north along Jumeirah Beach Road. It was still dark at this point, and was quite peaceful in some aspects - the only things I could hear were thousands of footsteps 👣 and the morning prayers from the mosques 🙏. Sunrise arrived as I was crossing one of the bridges, and got a fabulous view of the Dubai skyline in front of a pink backdrop 🌇. The straight and flat road meant that you could easily get into a groove and let your mind wander for most the run.

I felt the lack of training in the last 5km of the course, where I had to push a bit harder to keep moving forward. At last I reached Downtown Dubai, the Burj Khalifa towering above me and crowds of people cheering me on. Medal around my neck, I made my way to Burj Park where food trucks, picnic tables and music were waiting 🥳.

My final finish time: 01:51:31 🎖️

Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or a first-time runner, Burj2Burj offers an alternative experience of Dubai that I was happy to be a part of. This was my 3rd country that I've completed a race in (the others being the UK and Australia), and I enjoy the ability to explore a new location on foot - something that I hope to keep doing in my future travels. So next time you're in Dubai, think about lacing up your shoes and going for a run!

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