Step up and get fit with Vertical Training at Zayed Sports City

Burn more than 150 calories by running up and down 884 steps of the Zayed Sports City Stadium in the first free monthly TrainZSC programme by Daman ActiveLife.

Abeer Amiri, Daman ActiveLife ambassador, during a Vertical Training session at Zayed Sports City. Courtesy Daman ActiveLife

Vertical Training is an intense workout involving walking, jogging or running up and down hundreds of stairs in a sports stadium – and now you can give it a go at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.

The series of free, monthly sessions by Daman ActiveLife, which are open to adults and children, kicks off on Thursday, April 28 and is expected to continue throughout the summer.

Emirati Crossfit athlete Abeer Amiri says running up stairs is a great cardio workout.

“Imagine running. Now imagine running up the stairs,” says Amiri. “It requires a lot of explosive power and makes your internal system work harder to supply your leg muscles with the oxygen.”

Participants will run up and down the stadium steps as quickly as possible during each 30-minute set, stopping for a short rest between each repetition to reap the benefits of the workout.

“Apart from being a great cardio activity, vertical training is a great way to focus on building and shaping your leg muscles: your calves, quads, hamstrings and glutes,” says Amiri. “Due to the intensity, such training can actually enhance your running on a flat surface as well.”

• Vertical Training is from 6pm to 9pm at Zayed Sports City on Thursday, April 28. Open to all ages and abilities. To participate, register at www.trainzsc.com