From online running contests to eSports tournaments: virtual fitness events to try

From now until the end of May, there are several ways you can keep fit online

As we face periods of self-isolation at home, more and more people are running in their living rooms if they don't have outdoor space. Getty Images

With UAE gyms closed and the weather outside heating up a little more every day, we may soon be relegated indoors for our workouts.

Dubai Sports Council has pre-empted this inevitability by organising a raft of virtual sports events from now until the end of May.

Whether you're a beginner or a veteran in the fitness arena, and a runner or not, there's something for everyone.

Check out the events below for ways to keep active indoors over the next two weeks:

Skechers Virtual Run

Organised by the Super Sports Academy and the Dubai Sports Council, it is open to participants of all ages and abilities.

Taking place on Friday, May 22, participants are invited to take their pick from five different distances – 1km, 2.5km, 5km, 10km or unlimited kilometres – and complete their run over the course of the day. They're then encouraged to upload videos of the run to their Instagram page, tagging #SkechersVirtualRun with run data, photos and videos, for a chance to win prizes.

Participants should make use of indoor and outdoor space in and around their home and community, with the real challenge being to design and create a fun course.

Sign up here. Registration is open until 11.59pm on May 21.

Ramadan Mubarak Challenge

This is the second episode of the virtual running event (the first took place on Friday, May 15).

Anyone in the household can participate, with four different categories to choose from – a 10km and 5km, 2.5km for children aged 12 to 16, and a race for children under 12.

For this one, you can use a treadmill, run around your house or yard, or run outdoors. The open event takes place from 9am on Friday, May 22 until 9am Saturday, May 23.

It costs Dh25 to enter and the top three in each category will be awarded with a medal. Register here.

Jam Sports Academy

Has The Last Dance got your inspired to become the next Michael Jordan? Well, here's how to keep your (video game) basketball skills up at home.

This online basketball tournament is taking place from Wednesday to Sunday, May 27 to 31, and will involved 64 players from 17 countries – UAE, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Morocco, France, Spain, Germany, Comoros, Holland, Denmark, Canada, England, Portugal, India and Pakistan – to battle out for the top two places on their PlayStation 4.

But if you're into eSports of other varieties, why not check out The Battle of Gamers, which started on Thursday, May 14, and will reach its finale on Thursday, May 21. There's also the Gamefinder Call of Duty – Modern Warfare contest, which will finish on Friday, May 22 after three exciting days of competition. The Omen Gaming Challenge, which started on Thursday, May 7, will see its finale on Saturday, May 30, too.

Register here.

Step Around the World

This month-long fitness event will come to a close on Sunday, May 31.

Organised to support fontline workers, who are protecting the community from Covid-19, the aim of the event is to achieve 50 million cumulative steps, which will cover the earth's circumference of 40,075km. Participants can walk wherever they like, count their steps on a smart watch or app, and submit their number in an online form.

Find out more here.