A huge Marathon

DUBAI--In the early hours of 13th November, 13,000 runners gathered at the iconic Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai's modern skyscrapers to kick off We Run DXB, the fastest 10K race of the season.

Cheered on by Emirati weightlifter, Amna Al Haddad, a sea of runners burst across the start line challenging their own selves to achieve their personal best.

Starting at 07:00 am, the race route incorporated music along the 10k city route to keep the runners engaged and inspired to conquer the challenge.

After the run, Al Haddad, full of praise for the runners and the energy they brought to the race, said "I attended We Run DXB to cheer and motivate those who were participating but I was the one who was inspired by the enthusiasm and energy of this group."

The Nike athlete continued "It is always amazing to be part of something this epic - it has shown the world that there is a thriving and passionate community of runners here, who are in turn spurring others to join the movement. With We Run DXB, Nike has created a strong and supportive environment for runners of all calibre to put in their best and find out just how tough they are."

Organised by Nike through its distributor Sun and Sand Sports, We Run DXB inspired a record number of participants to ramp up their speed and run their fastest 10k.

"It gives me a great deal of joy to see the sports community in the GCC grow into such a formidable force. We Run DXB as well as initiatives like Nike+ Run Club (NRC) and Nike+ Training Club (NTC) bring a global movement to Dubai, igniting people's passion for fitness and sports," said Roy Nasrallah, Head of Marketing, Nike/Sun and Sand Sports.

Nike hosted post-race celebrations at the race village, based in Burj Park, where athletes kicked off their shoes and enjoyed a series of services, including recovery treatments, sports massages, stretching sessions and dance routines.

We Run DXB 2015 is part of the global Nike We Run Series hosted by 18 cities across Europe, Latin America and Asia and ranging in distances from 5K to a full marathon. The 2014 edition held in December last year attracted over 6,000 runners during the holiday season.