Meet the UAE’s ultra record breakers

UAE's ultra runners Olga Zolotova and Veronique Bourbeau have been big plans ahead.

Olga Zolotova in training. The Russian is currently running seven ultra-marathons in seven days. Courtesy Olga Zolotova

• On Sunday, Olga Zolotova began a challenge that no one has ever attempted – seven ultra-marathons in seven emirates in seven days.

“I’m inviting anyone to join me run,” says Zolotova, who works in marketing. But you will have to be up early to do so, because the 25-year-old Russian is running from 2am to 8am, clocking 50 kilometres per session. Zolotova hopes to raise Dh25,000 for Jusoor, a charity that helps to educate refugee children in Lebanon.

Zolotova began her challenge on the running track along Abu Dhabi’s Corniche, before moving on to Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach track, then Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah. She finishes in Fujairah on Sunday.

Zolotova often ran 10km at a time while she was living in the United States. When she moved to Dubai two years ago, she was inspired to take up longer distances to support social causes. “It was a way to grab people’s attention and raise much-needed funds for these causes,” she says. To support children’s charities, Zolotova completed a 400km cycle in October. Two months later, she ran 200km across the UAE in 24 hours.

• French-Canadian ultra runner Veronique Bourbeau is on a mission to run 6,000 kilometres around Japan in four months. She was inspired to take on the run two years ago, after a doctor diagnosed her with a heart murmur, and said she might only be able to continue running for another five years. “My mind was a roller coaster,” says Bourbeau. “I couldn’t imagine not running anymore. I am convinced that I am a better citizen now because I run. So I decided to realise my dream while I can – a big charity run.”

On July 28, when Bourbeau begins her quest to run 45km to 65km a day, she will be joined by her 18-year-old daughter, Columbine Lord. Lord will travel on an electric bicycle, connected to a baby trailer containing all their essential supplies.

“I thought about carrying everything in a baby stroller,” says Bourbeau. “But my daughter really wanted to join me, so we came up with this idea instead.”

Bourbeau, who is resigning from her job to take up the challenge, is running for Operation Smile, an international medical charity that repairs children’s cleft lips and cleft palates.