5km run? Sounds easy. But throw a -4 degrees Celsius temperature and a ski slope, now thatβs a challenge! The crazy persona in me didn't think twice (okay I did for a bit) and signed up for a challenge! On its 4th Edition, DXB Snow Run 2023 was held last Sunday inside the famous Ski Dubai!
DXB Snow Run:
Due to the limited two-season weather in the UAE, the Dubai Sports Council started an initiative to promote winter sports, at least in a special way. Ski Dubai, an attraction inside the Mall of the Emirates comes to the rescue with its famous ski slope and sub-zero temperature.
With choices of running individually or as a group on either 5km or 3km distance, DXB Snow Run surely made great options (and timings) to choose from!
Run Proper:
The first race started at 6:30 AM which my colleague and I took so that we could finish early. Along with a timing chip ankle band, we collected the bib number at the venue. If you haven't been inside the Ski Dubai (like me), there are run maps plastered around the venue too to help you visualize the route.
To know more about the event, check it out from Ski Dubai's site - DXB SNOW RUN!
Starting from the entrance (the only visible section from the North Restaurant and Costa), the route turned left which brought us to the bottom of the slope. Following the red arrow (from the photo), we went uphill until we reached the top of the slope. Near the bottom is where the turning point is, for our succeeding laps. As instructed, 5km means 5 laps and 3km means 3 laps.
And yes, you have to count your laps. Unfortunately, I do not have a sports watch (yet) and I left my phone outside and I sure doubted my count of laps. Didn't see that coming!
Snow Run 2023 Experience:
Not that I shy away from a 5km run, but my first Snow Run experience was nerve-wracking. I haven't been into a -4 degree Celsius temperature in my life, not even during my Komsomolets Peak hike in Kyrgyzstan back in November 2022.
My colleague Denis who joined me for the run advised me that I should not be nervous as it would not be as bad as I think once I started running.
True enough, it wasn't. But the steep slope caught me off guard big time. While Iβm familiar with such slopes from some of the hiking trails I've been to, running on it and snow was a whole new world. That's the first lesson that day.
The second lesson was that my eyeglasses fogged so much during the run and I couldn't focus on the run at all. Found myself trying to decide whether to stop and wipe the fog off of the eyeglasses or if I should just remove and hold them. Ended up with the latter of course, but it was uncomfortable.
Downhill is where I was confident until I experienced my very first downhill in the snow (not counting my hike in Kol Tor Lake since I was wearing micro spikes at that time). With my lack of experience in the snow, downhill was another issue.
My feet went all the way inside the snow and it became challenging to gain the running momentum. Balance and avoiding injury became my top priority and I just let my feet go in. My socks eventually got wet out of that and I started to feel bloody cold from my feet. Good thing though, my run is almost over.
Results & Personal Thoughts:
I know for a fact that the weather condition and the slope is a huge factor that makes this race a little special. In return, I am not comparing this run to my normal 5K runs.
Finished at 54:12 with a pace of 10:52/km, it was slow sure. But not bad! Had I not done the race, I wouldn't know how I performed in such a condition.
Not only that, I learned so much more from this experience. I learned about my physical and mental capabilities including how my body reacts to such conditions.
At the end of the race, I was humbled by the learnings and insights gained during the run. Challenging and the coldest 5km run ever, Snow Run 2023 was 100% a good choice. Am I signing up for next yearβs Snow Run? Absolutely!
