• A mother and father cheer their daughter on for the jump at the final course at the Inflatathon obstacles course at Safa Park, Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National
    A mother and father cheer their daughter on for the jump at the final course at the Inflatathon obstacles course at Safa Park, Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Participants prepare to jump down one of the inflated obstacles at the Inflatathon in Duai. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Participants prepare to jump down one of the inflated obstacles at the Inflatathon in Duai. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Two entrants don inflated T-Rex costumes to take part in the Inflatable heat race. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Two entrants don inflated T-Rex costumes to take part in the Inflatable heat race. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Participants running the Inflatathon obstacles course. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Participants running the Inflatathon obstacles course. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Two T-Rex's race through the obstacle course durin gthe inflatable heat. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Two T-Rex's race through the obstacle course durin gthe inflatable heat. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Entrants of the inflatable heat begin their race. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Entrants of the inflatable heat begin their race. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • An inflatable T-Rex uses its famously short arms to climb over an obstacle amid fierce compeititon. Leslie Pableo for The National
    An inflatable T-Rex uses its famously short arms to climb over an obstacle amid fierce compeititon. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Residents slide down the side of "Everest". Leslie Pableo for The National
    Residents slide down the side of "Everest". Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Children climb over an obstacle, as menacing inflatable T-Rex's threaten to catch up. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Children climb over an obstacle, as menacing inflatable T-Rex's threaten to catch up. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Residents tumble down an inflated slide during Dubai's inaugural inflatathon. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Residents tumble down an inflated slide during Dubai's inaugural inflatathon. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Participants finishing the Inflatathon obstacle course with flair. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Participants finishing the Inflatathon obstacle course with flair. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • People climb over the "Bounce Off" obstacle. Leslie Pableo for The National
    People climb over the "Bounce Off" obstacle. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Triumphant "sumos" at the finish line for Dubai's inaugural Inflatathon.
    Triumphant "sumos" at the finish line for Dubai's inaugural Inflatathon.
  • Participants climb up the "Speed Bumps" obstacle. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Participants climb up the "Speed Bumps" obstacle. Leslie Pableo for The National

Dubai residents don inflatable T-Rex suits to complete wacky obstacle race — in pictures


Juman Jarallah
  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai is host to some pretty gruelling obstacle races: XDubai Spartan Race, Ice Warrior Challenge, Desert Warrior Challenge and du Tough Mudder.

Now the emirate has added another challenging race to its roster, only this one does not require participants to climb walls, crawl through mud or jump over fire. It challenges them to jump, crawl, slide and bounce — yes bounce — across an inflated course that spans Dubai's Safa Park.

While the other obstacle races may require weeks of training and a basic level of fitness, the Inflatathon only asks that entrants be more than a metre tall to participate.

Those not afraid of a challenge can up the ante by joining the 'inflatables heat' which requires donning an inflatable suit to complete the course and sacrificing agility and valuable friction when scaling an inflated plastic climbing frame. The suit options include a ferocious T-Rex and a marginally insensitive Sumo costume.

On Friday, residents made their way to Safa Park to take part in the inaugural event, organised by the Dubai Sports Council.

The four-kilometre course comprised 10 massive obstacles including the 25-metre long steep slopes of the "Himalayas" and a seven-metre high "Everest" obstacle.

The air filled with the excited squeals of children, and adults, who took part.

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