If you read my last post, you will know that the week previously I boarded an aeroplane bound for Dubai, feeling extremely exhausted and in desperate need of a relaxing break... You may then find it a little bizarre that this highlight of the week was running before breakfast every morning, particularly in 77 degree Fahrenheit (25 degree Celcius) heat!
The week started with 2 days of mostly sleeping, at the start of the second day I really started to wonder if I'd made a mistake in travelling to Dubai, I could have taken the week off work and slept at home without shelling out for an aeroplane ticket... I think it was this thought that made me drag myself out of bed and get out an about so see some new sights later that day. It worked! By the time day 3 had dawned I was feeling back to my normal self and desperate to get out there for a run :-)
Of course, I run regularly when at home but it can sometimes be a real struggle to run in the evening having started the day 12 hours previously and in the workplace for 9 of those! Last week all my runs were an absolute pleasure, they were at my pace and convenience rather than having to squidge them in around the usual demands of everyday life and when coupled with such a stunning location I have to admit I felt very priviliged. I couldn't wait to get back out for a run before breakfast each day and was determined to make the most of the opportunity so for the 4 remaining days of my trip I did just that!
After my final run on the last day I retraced my steps a few hours later to take some photographs of the views along my running route.
This bridge connects the Al Bahar Souk to the Dubai Mall and is where I started and finished my runs each day
I would then proceed around the Burj Fountain, The Al Bahar Souk is in the background.
Then continue past the Burj Khalifa, no photograph or words can ever fully capture how magnificent this is!
Then over a bridge, again past the Burj Fountain, this time in action.
One of three bridges I used to maintain my hill training.
Perfect sidewalk for running!
The Burj Khalifa from the otherside of the lake.
See, these bridges weren't imaginary... They felt bloomin' steep at the time too!
Heading back past the Burj Khalifa and up towards the waterfalls.
I would run up, usually the left hand side of these waterfalls, across the top and back down the other side.
Back past the Burj Fountain, you can see the Address Downtown Dubai hotel to the left.
Back over the bridge to the apartments.
Having three bridges enabled me to easily vary my route each day, to get the mileage in without too much repitition, although to be honest, it would not have been a great hardship to stick to just several repeats of the same circuits in such a beautiful spot.
In my opinion the best way to explore a place is on foot, even if I think I already know the location I always stumble across something that I didn't know was there so I love to just start running and see where my feet take me :-) I've since also learned that running in the sun is the best way to speed up the tanning process - the only downside being that the need for sunglasses does rather encourage the 'reverse panda' effect!
Roll on UK summertime so I can back to running amongst some of our hidden gems instead of fighting my way through chip papers, drinks cans and other debris as we pound the pavements by the 'safety' of streetlight!
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