Burj Khalifa Park, Dubai. 4th March 2024.
In a land of luxury, high tech and unapologetic ostentation, we recovered after a marathon. We ran 5 kilometers in the neat park around the tallest building in the world, in Dubai, where every bit of land has been reclaimed from the harsh Arabian desert.
TLDR; “too long, didn’t read”
- I just want to run! Take me to RUN.
- I have 1 minute. Take me to USEFUL INFORMATION.
- Running is my excuse for travelling. Take me to TRIP.
- Running is my excuse for eating. Take me to CARBOLOADING.
- I want to know what to read or watch in the plane. Take me to ONE BOOK / TO KNOW MORE.
🏃♀️ The run 🏃♂️
We arrived to Dubai quite early in the morning in a flight from Tokyo.
Right after having run Tokyo’s Marathon.
So, we could and should only do a recovery run. With our brand new “Tokyo Marathon 2024” t-shirts, of course!
And we chose the Burj Khalifa Park to do it, after researching that “you can easily do 5 kilometers around the park, and that it is a good place for runners”. Something we remembered from our trip one year and a half ago.
It is true: the Burj Khalifa Park is a good place for running… well, kind of.
The problem is that you can only run very early in the morning, because later it is too hot, and there is no shadows in the course. Unless you want to fry in the heat of the Arabian desert, avoid running from 10am onwards.
And when it gets dark you just cannot run, because of the super popular show at the Dubai Fountain.
The shows take place every day, from 18:00 to 23:00 every 30 minutes. They include lights, water jets that can exceed 100 meters and music. Enough to attract hundreds of people. The running ‘course’ gets too crowded with tourists and locals alike. This much we also remembered.
We ran on a 4th of March around 10am, so it was still not extremely hot. Still, we only managed 5 kms.
The course is hard, with cement and mosaic, but you can hydrate because there are public fountains. You can also get changed in the Dubai Mall’s toilets (wide and super clean), if need be.
But, most importantly, the course has magnificent views. You run around the Dubai Fountain and its pristine waters, Dubai Mall‘s endless offer of luxury brands and glamorous dinning, and high tech skyscrappers and hotels with fancy swimming pools ‘hanging in the air’. And, of course: you run around the tallest building in the world!
🌍 The trip 📷: What to see in Dubai
During Qatar FIFA World Cup ⚽ in 2022 (Hayya, hayya!), we spent a few days in Dubai. We had time to visit some of the landmarks that have made Dubai famous, as well as explore the Arabian Desert.
One attraction we didn’t want to miss after having seen the movie “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” was the Burj Khalifa, the tallest buildig in the world!
Here‘s the famous scene, and below, Roger’s recreation…:
The Burj Khalifa stands at a staggering height of 828 meters, and we ascended to its observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors. There, you get breathtaking panoramic views of the city skyline, desert, and ocean:
I recommend seeing the night show which turns the building into a fantasy work of art. The light show runs every 30 minutes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and every hour on weekdays:
We spent hours (literally hours!) in the Dubai Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the world. It has over 1,200 retail outlets, including high-end fashion brands, entertainment facilities, an indoor theme park, an ice skating rink, and the famous Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo!
We didn’t get to stay in the world’s only seven-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab, but we did see it from the outside. Unfortunately for us, the access is limited to guests and diners:
Instead, we took many photos from the nearby Jumeirah Beach:
We also took one of the many Arabian Desert “Red Dune” tours available: ours had a 4×4 Land Cruiser crashing through dunes, and a dinner with a spectable belly dancing, Tanura dancing, and a fire show. Touristy? You bet. Enjoyable? Definitely!
The Arabian Desert is a vast desert region spanning across several countries in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where Dubai is located.
It is known for its vast stretches of sand dunes, extreme temperatures, and arid climate, as can be seen in the beatiful pictures:
Tourist tip 📓: We picked a tour which included dinner, which allowed us to be in the desert and take pictures during the "golden hour" in the afternoon, and the sunset. It was really magical to see the colours of the desert changing!
🍜 Carboloading and Protein Recovery 🍝: What to eat in Dubai if you are a runner
For carboloading 📌, I have picked three specialities that are equally high in carbohydrates 🤭, and delicious 🤤:
First, Machbooks, a traditional Emirati dish consisting of spiced rice with meat (usually chicken, lamb, or fish), cooked with onions, tomatoes, and various spices like saffron, cinnamon, and dried lime, is high in carbohydrates due as it is primarily rice: 🍚.
Al Harees, a Ramadan specialty made from wheat, meat (usually chicken or lamb), and a blend of spices, cooked slowly until it reaches a porridge-like consistency, is also high in carbohydrates due to the wheat content.
And Khubz, a traditional Arabic bread that’s a staple in Dubai and the wider region, is made from wheat flour and is a significant source of carbohydrates in many meals, especially when paired with other dishes.
For protein recovery 📌, Machboos and Al Harees are equally rich in protein (meat-protein, obviously). If you prefer plant-based protein, Hummus, a popular Middle Eastern dip made from mashed chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic, is a good source.
And Falafel 🧆, too! These deep-fried balls made from ground chickpeas or fava beans are a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine and are rich in plant-based protein.
Special section: Spices!
We visited Dubai’s Spices Souk, which is a truly sensory experience. The ‘speciality’ seems to be saffron, which is very good for runners for the following reasons…
- Improves endurance! -?! Some studies suggest that saffron supplementation may improve endurance performance…. Yet to be proven 😆
- It has antioxidant properties: This is indeed proven. Saffron contains compounds such as crocin, crocetin, and safranal, which act as antioxidants. These compounds help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress caused by intense exercise.
- Anti-Inflammatory effects: Saffron may help reduce inflammation and muscle soreness after strenuous workouts or long runs…
I include a list of benefits of other spices offer to runners:
- Turmeric: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric can help reduce inflammation and aid in muscle recovery after intense workouts or runs.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels, which can be beneficial for maintaining energy levels during long runs. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and may aid in muscle recovery.
- Ginger: Ginger is another spice with anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce muscle soreness and inflammation after exercise. It can also help settle the stomach, which is beneficial for runners who experience gastrointestinal issues during runs.
- Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, which has been shown to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation. It can also boost metabolism and increase calorie burn, which may be beneficial for endurance runners.
- Black Pepper: Black pepper contains piperine, which has been shown to enhance nutrient absorption. Adding black pepper to meals can help runners absorb nutrients more effectively from their food, aiding in recovery and overall performance.
- Cloves: Cloves are rich in antioxidants, which can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. They also have antibacterial properties, which can support overall immune health.
Useful information
🏃♀️ 5 kilometers in Burj Khalifa Park in Dubai.
🛬 Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in Asia.
👟 Urban: Bring shoes for asphalt. And gear for hot climates, like the one recommended here.
✅ Magnificent views; not only of the tallest building on Earth, but the Burj Fountains and the buildings nearby make for a super attractive setting.
✅ Super wide course, with public fountains.
❌ Only suitable for running early in the morning.
Map
One book
“The Dog”, by Joseph O’Neill
I chose a book by Joseph O’Neill, an author awarded the 2009 Faulkner Award for Fiction for his book “Netherland”. The book was nominated for the Man Booker Prize ad I was super curious about it because I had read the former one and it was quite brilliant in his description of what some critics describe as “postcolonial anguish”.
Plot Summary: “In this extraordinary, both comic and philosophically profound novel, the acclaimed author of Netherland uncovers the hidden contours of a glittering Middle Eastern city—and the quiet dilemmas of modernity. When our unnamed hero, a self-sabotaging and oddly existential lawyer, finds his life in New York falling apart, he seizes an opportunity to flee to Dubai, taking a mysterious job for a fabulously wealthy Lebanese family. As he struggles with his position as the “family officer” of the capricious Batros brothers, he also struggles with the “doghouse,” a condition of culpability in which he feels trapped, even as he composes endless electronic correspondence—both sent and unsent—in an attempt to find a way out.”
