Sprinters don’t slow down for summer

Twice a week around 15 to 25 people head to the athletics track in Sports City for 7.30am sprint training sessions. Even at that early hour the mercury can still touch 34 degrees Celsius, which while hot is still manageable.

For dedicated fitness enthusiasts in Dubai, hot and humid mornings are the perfect time to push harder. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

DUBAI // For most residents, the words “high intensity” in summer usually mean turning the air conditioning up a few more notches.

But for a group of dedicated fitness enthusiasts, the hot and humid days are the perfect time to push themselves harder.

Twice a week, 25 people head to the athletics track in Sports City for a 7.30am sprint training session. Even at that early hour the mercury can still touch 34°C, which, while hot, is still manageable.

Training consists of sprints over varying distances as well as speed and agility drills, all of which benefit the athlete’s sprinting and cardiovascular abilities and general sports performance.

Many members of the group are involved in other sports – from gymnastics to weightlifting. The explosive element of sprinting helps these athletes to perform well in other disciplines.

“Sprinting is very underrated,” said Nfaji Kabba, who has been running the group since October last year.

“Many people focus on the longer distances thinking that would achieve fat loss, but with sprints you burn fat and build lean muscle. Look at the bodies of marathon runners compared with sprinters.”

Mr Kabba, the performance coach, likened working out during the summer to training at high altitude. “Once the cooler months kick in, you tend to move faster. There’s obviously something about it.”

He said that he has seen far fewer injuries on the sprint track than on gym treadmills.

Maria Markovicova, who has been a regular participant at the weekly sessions, was happy to sweat it out, so she could feel the benefits during the cooler months. “It just gets easier in the winter time,” said Ms Markovicova, 28. “It’s good not to stop. It’s like any sport, if you take a break it’s always harder when you go back.

“I hydrate from the day before training, drinking a litre to a litre and a half during training, then the rest of the day.”

Ms Markovicova has been a CrossFit fan and competitor in various fitness events and she welcomed the chance to be out in the fresh air, even if it was very humid. “I do so much training indoors already I love it outside,” Ms Markovicova said. “It’s like your dose of vitamin D. Once I’ve done that, I don’t feel the need to go out again.”

Reyhana Sallie, a sports coach, used the sessions to explore a different part of Dubai. “I like the scenery, the space, the view of the skyscrapers and just the freedom to move and explore,” said Ms Sallie, 35, a South African who lives at Dubai Marina.

“You have a lot of space to do things that you cannot do in a gym. Plus you get connected with nature and its surroundings, which is a bonus.

“For me it feels like an escape from the concrete jungle. I enjoy training outside because it clears my head and I have the freedom to move around.”

She said training times are reduced slightly with higher humidity levels. “You work harder for a shorter period and in the winter you tend to train for longer periods,” Ms Sallie said.