‘Burjeel Run’ was conducted by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in support of frontline workers

Abu Dhabi residents came together to participate in a special run held at Mohammed Bin Zayed City. The ‘Burjeel Run’, organized by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, put the spotlight on frontline workers who are helping to fight the spread of diseases and illness in our community. The event kicked off at 6.30 am and witnessed active participation from the public and frontline healthcare workers.

Burjeel Run had four races in the 1KM, 3KM, 5KM and 10 KM categories. Participants of the 10 KM run commenced first, with those in the other categories starting at different slots before 8 am. After being flagged off at Burjeel Medical City, the runners covered the Mohammed Bin Zayed City area and crossed the finish line at the hospital premises.

“We thank the Abu Dhabi Sports Council for its unwavering support in encouraging sports events to advance health for all. Such events go a long way in inspiring people to lead happier, healthier, and more productive lives. It has been wonderful to run together with the community members to promote well-being. The event had a fun vibe, and we thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Sheenamol Cheriyan, a registered nurse at Burjeel Medical City and one of the 40 frontline workers who took part.

Another highlight of Burjeel Run is that it had participants of different ages from 3-59 years, including first-time runners, seasoned runners, and little children. Three-year-old Eisa Bin Mansoor, one of the youngest participants in the race, completed a distance of 1km. “I ran with my father. I had a lot of fun,” he said.

As the summer season has started and temperatures are soaring, prioritizing fitness is challenging for many. Still, these runners proved that running outdoors in the summer months is possible. According to Dr. Zuhair Alsharafi, Director of Emergency Department and Consultant- Emergency Medicine at Burjeel Medical City, exercising outdoors can be fun if we are careful.

“During the scorching summer, it can get difficult to run. People are concerned that outdoor workouts like running could lead to issues like heat-related illnesses and sunburns. However, this event has shown us that with proper arrangements and preparations, it is possible to run in the summer. I hope the participants will be inspired to keep running,” said Dr. Alsharafi.

Here are some measures that help in ensuring that physical activity during summer remains safe:

1- Scheduling the run in the early mornings or late evenings (as close as possible to sunrise or sunset times).

2- Staying well hydrated by drinking sufficient amounts of water and minerals.

3- Wearing loose-fitting and light-colored clothes.

4- Avoid continuous prolonged exposures to the sun, especially during peak heat hours (around noon).

5- Protecting our skin and eyes by wearing appropriate sunscreens and sunglasses.

6- Knowing when to stop: know the early signs of heat illnesses and seek immediate medical advice.