_w=940_h=488_pjpg.jpg?v=aa92f387)
After a pause during the pandemic, races are returning with 5,000 expected to attend the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon this month
Dubai’s hotel-based vertical race M1 Run and the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, which attracts around 5,000 participants, will both return to the UAE in February 2022.
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Set to take place on Saturday 19 February 2022, the 15th edition of the gold label race will welcome world-class athletes back to the emirate. Vying for top spot is Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba and Brigid Kosgei, who will both compete against recently announced international elite athletes Jacob Kiplimo, and reigning champion of the 2020 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marthon, Ababel Yeshaneh.
Participants will be competing for a chance to win a piece of the total prize fund, worth more than US$330,000
The race will take place at Al Marjan Island and consist of different categories for runners of all levels, including the half marathon, a relay race for teams and an improved fun run with an extended route, increased from 1km to 1.6km (1 mile), allowing each runner to fully experience the race course and benefit from the support of spectators.
FOR MORE NEWS YOU CAN USE, SIGN UP FOR CONNECTING TRAVEL’S WEEKLY BULLETIN
Commenting on the return of the half marathon, Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “As a fast-developing emirate, events such as the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon provide ample opportunities to engage, connect and come away with a better sense of community. The RAK Half Marathon has proven to be a huge success in previous years and with only a few weeks until the upcoming race, we’re excited to welcome back an incredible line-up of athletes and sports enthusiasts to our wonderful Emirate.”
Addressing concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, organisers have said: “The event will take place with robust safety precautions to safeguard the health and wellbeing of participants and spectators. Precautions include a requirement for participants to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination.”
M1 Run 2022, Dubai
In Dubai, another popular sporting event is set to take place on Sunday 5 February. Organised by Media One Hotel & Tower in Dubai Media City, the annual M1 Run combines a 1.2km incline ‘sky race’ through the tower’s carpark and up more than 700 steps in the staircase from the 7th to the 42nd floor.
Every runner gets a medal and a goody bag
Prizes will include vouchers worth up to US$815 to use in the hotel, and cash prize of US$1,000 for the first male winner and first female winner to cross the finish line.
Professional contenders will be aiming to beat the race record. To date, the female and male record-holders respectively are Euliter Jepchirchir Tanui from Kenya, 25 years old with a time of 8 minutes and 45 seconds, and Piotr Lobodzinski from Poland, age 31 with a time of 6 minutes and 33 seconds.
For more information about the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, visit www.