Check online or pick up your local calendar of events and, from October to April, you're sure to find plenty of triathlon races happening across the UAE. From sprint and Olympic distances to Ironman, the multisport – which involves swimming, cycling and running – is fast becoming one of the hottest disciplines in the country, with high-profile events, such as the Dubai Ironman, TriYas and the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi, reaching full capacity and attracting participants from outside the UAE.
To cater to the influx, the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi, one of the region’s most popular challenges for professionals, seasoned triathletes and first-timers, will now be taking place over two days, on March 3 and 4, at a new course on Yas Island.
“For elites, this will be a course that presents its own set of challenges, and for age-groupers, first-timers and seasoned athletes, the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi is the right fit for those looking for an unbeatable experience, rubbing shoulders with the world’s top triathletes,” says ITU race director Gary Marescia.
A highlight on the sporting calendar, the event is expected to attract 3,500 triathletes, including 120 of the world’s best elites who will swim, cycle and run their way to the finish line. “That’s a 30 per cent increase in entries versus this time last year,” says Marescia, adding that the sport has been growing globally at a consistent rate of 15 per cent annually over the past six years.
Among the course participants is 38-year-old Egyptian professional triathlete and Daman ActiveLife ambassador Omar Nour, who credits the rising popularity of triathlons in the UAE to social appeal and accessibility. “There’s no age limit, you don’t have to be a guy or a girl; anyone can do it. Now, I think, we’ve reached the stage where so many people have done it, that everyone in the UAE knows at least someone who has done a triathlon and they realise it’s not that hard core; and, that if that person did it, then they can do it, too,” he says. “It’s also very social, so a lot of people do it in groups with friends. There are a lot more grass-roots teams forming now, in which people train together at the weekends and go on long rides.”
For 29-year-old novice triathlete Tala El Ajou, the mix of disciplines was a key factor in her taking up the sport. “I’ve been a runner all my life, but running is very unforgiving and you tend to get injured. Because of the cross-training aspect of triathlons, you can keep doing it for a long time. Swimming, cycling and running are all great cardio and power sports and the combination allows you to stay injury-free at the same time,” explains the French fitness instructor and running coach.
Triathlete David Labouchere. Courtesy Cameron Clegg
Along with an expanding triathlete community, local events are proliferating across the UAE, a testament to the sport’s status locally. For Andy Fordham, director of operations Race ME Events, which organises the DIT (Dubai International Triathlon) and the JLL Triathlon Series, the triathlon landscape has completely shifted since 2011, with 50 per cent more events happening in the UAE today. “During the 2013-2014 season, we organised eight events centred around swimming, cycling and running. Today, that number has risen to 15 to 20 events a year,” he says.
While the support for this growth comes mostly from the 30- to 49-year age group, with a split of 80 per cent men and 20 per cent women, the sport is beginning to transcend age and gender, with an increase not only in female participation, but also in the number of youngsters who are taking up the discipline.
One such junior athlete is 15-year-old South African Abdul Rowland, who took part in his first triathlon in 2015, placing third. Since then, he has completed eight triathlons, with podium finishes in all, and will be racing at the upcoming ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi. A star athlete at his school (Al Yasmina Abu Dhabi), Rowland was encouraged to give triathlons a go by his swimming coach. “After my first participation at TriYas in 2015 I wanted to do better, so I decided to enter more,” he explains.
“It is such a great way to get fit. Abu Dhabi has so many training facilities that make it a lot easier for us to train and get better. You can go down to TrainYas or join the Abu Dhabi Triathlon Club where you can get the best tips from seasoned athletes.”
David Labouchere, a veteran of many triathlons worldwide, including the Ironman World Championship Kona in Hawaii, agrees that were it not for the continuous government efforts to create state-of-the-art facilities that allow people to train in a safe environment, the UAE’s standing as a regional triathlon hub would not be a reality today. “Sheikh Mohammed [bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai] has given us probably the finest dedicated cycle track [Al Qudra] in the world, we have access to world-class swimming facilities and the Arabian Gulf, and we can run in our communities on safe routes away from traffic. There are few places in the world that can compete with this,” says the 53-year-old British athlete and retired army officer who lives in Dubai.
With a plethora of benefits, it’s easy to understand why the triathlon is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world: getting fit, meeting like-minded people, racing around iconic venues, participating for fun or competing for a podium. When are you signing up?
Training tips for your first triathlon
A triathlon involves cycling, swimming and running, which are great cardio sports. Courtesy ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi
• Just do it. Don’t worry that you will be out of your depth, you won’t be. You can complete the swim doing breaststroke with your head up, if you want to. You can race most races on any bike, as long as it is well-maintained and you wear a helmet and appropriate clothing. And for the run? Walk if you find yourself out of energy; many people do. Once you’ve completed one triathlon, you will have lit a fire and you can build to steadily become faster, and perhaps, more competitive.
• Find a group or friend to train with – it will make the experience more fun and will keep you motivated.
• Don’t be shy to ask people with experience for tips and advice.
• Pack everything you will need the night before. Being prepared will make the morning of the race much less stressful.
• And last, don’t put pressure on yourself. Have fun, and enjoy it.
5 triathlon calendar events
ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi. Courtesy of ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi
Oceanic Triathlon Series
February 10 and April 14, Oceanic Hotel Khorfakkan. Sprint and Super Sprint. From Dhs250 to Dhs500, www.oceanictriathlonseries.com.
TriYas
February 17, Yas Marina Circuit. Sprint and Olympic distances, KidsTri. Dhs375 for adults, Dhs75 for kids, www.yasmarinacircuit.com.
JLL Triathlon Series
February 25, Jebel Ali Golf Resort. Sprint and Super Sprint. Dh375 for adults, from Dh175 for juniors, www.premieronline.com.
ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi
March 3 and 4, Yas Island. Sprint, Olympic, Maxi distances and Junior Triathlon. Starting from Dhs450 for adults and Dhs60 for children, AbuDhabi.Triathlon.org/Enter.
Muscat Paradise Triathlon
March 17, Shangri-La Bar Al Jissah Resort. Sprint, Senior Sprint, Olympic, Kids Duathlon. Dhs250. www.mtc-triathlon.com.
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