Memorable, Peculiar Marathon Moments at Dubai
We have now arrived at the third and final part of my Dubai trip series. During the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, as I travelled from location to location to catch my fellow Muscat Road Runners, I looked around and noticed some picture-worthy sights and scenes. I took pictures of some of the other runners who caught my attention as well.
So below is my collection of pictures of random scenes and interesting-looking runners from the Dubai Marathon.
At Our First Stop
After the 1,200 participants were sent off from the starting line of the marathon, Deborah, Kate,
little Katherine and I (the Muscat Support Group) took a taxi to the first spot where we would
await Geb and his entourage, and then our very own Muscat Road Runners. left photo: It was
very dark when we were still at the marathon starting place. By the time our taxi dropped us off,
the sun was rising (after an unexpected rain) and the sight of the sky was just beautiful! This
was a photo I took right after we got off the taxi. + right photo: After we saw Haile and his
entourage run very quickly past, we had breakfast at this place called 'the Lime Tree Cafe'
while we waited for the first of our Muscat Road Runners to show up.
Checking out the Dubai Marathon
Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2009
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Friday, 16th January 2009
That Wonderful Morning!
Aw, I feel like I could still smell that moment! Everything was nice. The sky, the atmosphere... Everything!
.
The Mosque in the Distance
And a beautiful one at that. Such great architecture and design. He he.
Standard Chartered, Standard Chartered
The road leading to the half way turn. As you can see, it got rained on. And it was not just a slight, hardly noticeable rain.
Thankfully, later on, the road wasn't so wet as for the runners to slip! He he.
Spinneys!
I've never been to a Spinneys, actually. This was the first time I saw one. That's how it looked that very early morning.
It was still closed, of course.
The Lime Tree Cafe!!!
It was still closed when we got there, so we had to wait on the sidewalk in such great cold! By the time the
first elite runners (with Geb) turned up, it was already open. So inside we went and made our orders. It looked
like the cafe specialised in breakfast food! And it had coffee, and some other food (i.e. pasta and cake) on
display behind glass as well. I got myself a cafe latte and a veg breakfast, which consisted of (if I can recall
it correctly): one large tomato cut into two, two very large mushrooms, many spinach leaves, (which all look
like they were broiled or steamed, I'm not very good at cooking), some pieces of bread and a fried egg (which
I asked to be sunny side up). There was prolly butter, too, for the bread. Unless I'm forgetting anything,
I think that was it. I enjoyed my cafe latte, too. But my food was the best breakfast, by far, I think I've had
in my entire life! Boy, that place is good. I had to quickly gobble my breakfast up as we were only in there while
the Muscat Road Runners were going to approach. So quickly gobble my breakfast up I did. Great food!
Thank you, the Lime Tree Cafe, and I really hope to see you again. :)
And A Little Girl Skips Towards the Mosque
There is little Katherine, Deborah's daughter, in the picture on the left. In the photos are the mosque and Friday's.
Recycling Bins!
The tops of each of them say, "Keep Dubai Green & Clean". And that day, Dubai looked clean and green, indeed. These
recycling bins are found right next to each and every bus stop. How attractive and clean these bins look. The people of
Dubai better be segregating!
The MSG... And a Bus Stop
The Muscat Support Group! left photo: Deborah, Eli, Kate, I and little Katherine. I was wearing that large white top because
I had on only a three-fourths sleeved light cotton hoodie on top of a sleeveless shirt and it was very, very cool that early
morning so Deborah offered to let me wear her husband's (MRR Steve Sayer running the marathon) long sleeves. + right
photo: The enclosed, cozy-looking bus stop. All the bus stops (next to recycling bins, of course) I saw in Dubai looked
just like this. Knowing Dubai, it prolly has aircon/heater inside.
The MSG Cheering on the Runners
There they were on that street, just awaiting the runners and
cheering! in the photo: Kate, Katherine, Deborah, Lisa and Eli.
.
Look! It's a Little Girl!
And a toddler at that! With a pacifier in her mouth. :D I saw this baby while I was standing in the
middle of the two roads, awaiting the runners with my digicam.
There Are the Runners
left photo: That runner in front looks more like he was in biking gear or something. Some unique-looking outfit he has on.
That's why he popped out for me. + right photo: Here's someone who my co-MSG seemed to know. I just forget what name
they were calling him. He looks like he was having the time of his life, like he was enjoying his running. Aw. Is that what it
feels... To be free! He he.
Some Clown-looking Ones
first two photos from left: Check that out. This man decided to run the marathon with a green curly-haired wig! He he. That is simply awesome.
far right photo: While this man (coming from his halfway turn already!) wore a very colourful stripe-y shirt. It's like a rainbow! Rainbow man! He he.
And the Green-wigged Man Is Past His Halfway Point
I wonder whether this Dubai policeman was curious. Or jealous. He he!
.
Flowers!
And plenty of them! Just on the sidewalks at the next stop of the MSG. This was where we would
await the runners on their 30/35th-kilometre mark. Winter flowers in the Gulf are beautiful, indeed.
A Cute-looking Doggie
I'm pretty awful at identifying breeds/types though. Nevertheless, this one looked adorable!
That Dog Again
And now you see its face! :D
Another One
This one's a blackie. Sweet. What was it with dogs watching the marathon? Ha ha. But it was nice. :)
I Caught A Lady with Two Kids
Yes! It's a woman with two babies in a stroller! I can't believe I took this picture. Did the woman notice I
was taking her shot? Ha ha!
Dubai Police
La la la... Your job looks very easy. And my, how fashionable you look! Check out that outfit. I want it.
The Police Dude Looks on at an Expatriate Woman and Her Two Kids
Or was he staring into space? Ha ha. I wonder if he was bored.
.
Another Little One!
Ha ha. Is it obvious yet that I love the little ones? This is my last child picture. Just about. I
noticed her, especially because she was wearing that number. Did she join the 3-kilometre fun
run? Aw, how cute! :D Then there's her little brother in his stroller, too.
.
The Man with the String Vest!
Yes! It's him! Ha ha. My co-MSG were pointing him out. They were very amused. :))
Toughing It out
Yes, these runners are hardcore! Why, you'd have to be crazy to be running a marathon! LOL.
left photo: This guy was sticking his tongue out and giving the thumbs down sign. Oh, dear.
right photo: And this chick is really something. He he. I actually saw her at the starting point,
outside Dubai Media City. She was stretching and everything, prepping herself up.
I kind of saw my self in her. A young lady joining a marathon.
An Old, Hippie-looking Man
Yeah! And how vintage he looks, too. With the shades and everything. And check out that beard. Ha ha.
It's Rainbow Man!
Smiling this time. It would be pretty unbelievable though if he was smiling right at me. Ha ha.
.
Mr. France
How clueless-looking he was at that point. Why, he didn't like people cheering for him? Ha ha!
You snobby French. LOL. (In case it's too small here, his vest says 'FRANCE'.)
It's Green-wigged Man again! And Someone from Japan.
Yeah, these are the runners I find interesting-looking. Ha ha!
Time to Go
It was finally time to head to the finish line for
the MSG. From then we looked for a cab to take
us to outside the Westin.
.
And We're at the Finish!
left photo: This man decided to enter the finish line with a baby! Of course, this got the attention
of the crowd up at the grandstand so they were cheering for him. He was then turning to the
crowd and showing the baby. Ha ha! + right photo: Yes! Rainbow man is finishing!
Italia!
(The woman's vest says 'ITALIA'.) These two ran to the finish together and with this flag in between them.
And He Has Made It!
Yes, this green-wigged man has become one highlight of the Dubai Marathon. Ha ha.
.
Balloons Flying Away
That's what you get for having a ton of balloons outdoors. In the left photo are the green ones
flying away and in the right, it was time for the blue balloons to fly away, too.
That wraps up the last of my Dubai trip series. So in a nutshell, I really went to Dubai just for the marathon. Next year, when I return to Dubai, I'll be coming for the marathon, too, but as a an actual participant. Yikes! Will I survive the whole race? In what time will I finish? Ha ha, I will reaaaallly have to train for it! Let's hope I get to train well this year. I need a training group/partner!
That aside, I really do want to go back to Dubai. For the sights, the feel, everything. I wanna be a tourist there, my gosh! So I was thinking: maybe on one of my trips from Manila to Muscat, I can take Malaysia Airlines flying until Dubai. Then at Dubai I can go for a day tour and maybe hop on one of those city tour buses (the ones open on the top just like the tour buses they have in US, ha ha). Then flying from Dubai to Muscat should be easy as there are many flights on that route. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind being stranded in Dubai. LOL.
Oh, Dubai, Dubai. Hah. I love the city after all.
So below is my collection of pictures of random scenes and interesting-looking runners from the Dubai Marathon.
At Our First Stop
After the 1,200 participants were sent off from the starting line of the marathon, Deborah, Kate,
little Katherine and I (the Muscat Support Group) took a taxi to the first spot where we would
await Geb and his entourage, and then our very own Muscat Road Runners. left photo: It was
very dark when we were still at the marathon starting place. By the time our taxi dropped us off,
the sun was rising (after an unexpected rain) and the sight of the sky was just beautiful! This
was a photo I took right after we got off the taxi. + right photo: After we saw Haile and his
entourage run very quickly past, we had breakfast at this place called 'the Lime Tree Cafe'
while we waited for the first of our Muscat Road Runners to show up.
Checking out the Dubai Marathon
Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2009
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Friday, 16th January 2009
That Wonderful Morning!
Aw, I feel like I could still smell that moment! Everything was nice. The sky, the atmosphere... Everything!
.
The Mosque in the Distance
And a beautiful one at that. Such great architecture and design. He he.
Standard Chartered, Standard Chartered
The road leading to the half way turn. As you can see, it got rained on. And it was not just a slight, hardly noticeable rain.
Thankfully, later on, the road wasn't so wet as for the runners to slip! He he.
Spinneys!
I've never been to a Spinneys, actually. This was the first time I saw one. That's how it looked that very early morning.
It was still closed, of course.
The Lime Tree Cafe!!!
It was still closed when we got there, so we had to wait on the sidewalk in such great cold! By the time the
first elite runners (with Geb) turned up, it was already open. So inside we went and made our orders. It looked
like the cafe specialised in breakfast food! And it had coffee, and some other food (i.e. pasta and cake) on
display behind glass as well. I got myself a cafe latte and a veg breakfast, which consisted of (if I can recall
it correctly): one large tomato cut into two, two very large mushrooms, many spinach leaves, (which all look
like they were broiled or steamed, I'm not very good at cooking), some pieces of bread and a fried egg (which
I asked to be sunny side up). There was prolly butter, too, for the bread. Unless I'm forgetting anything,
I think that was it. I enjoyed my cafe latte, too. But my food was the best breakfast, by far, I think I've had
in my entire life! Boy, that place is good. I had to quickly gobble my breakfast up as we were only in there while
the Muscat Road Runners were going to approach. So quickly gobble my breakfast up I did. Great food!
Thank you, the Lime Tree Cafe, and I really hope to see you again. :)
And A Little Girl Skips Towards the Mosque
There is little Katherine, Deborah's daughter, in the picture on the left. In the photos are the mosque and Friday's.
Recycling Bins!
The tops of each of them say, "Keep Dubai Green & Clean". And that day, Dubai looked clean and green, indeed. These
recycling bins are found right next to each and every bus stop. How attractive and clean these bins look. The people of
Dubai better be segregating!
The MSG... And a Bus Stop
The Muscat Support Group! left photo: Deborah, Eli, Kate, I and little Katherine. I was wearing that large white top because
I had on only a three-fourths sleeved light cotton hoodie on top of a sleeveless shirt and it was very, very cool that early
morning so Deborah offered to let me wear her husband's (MRR Steve Sayer running the marathon) long sleeves. + right
photo: The enclosed, cozy-looking bus stop. All the bus stops (next to recycling bins, of course) I saw in Dubai looked
just like this. Knowing Dubai, it prolly has aircon/heater inside.
The MSG Cheering on the Runners
There they were on that street, just awaiting the runners and
cheering! in the photo: Kate, Katherine, Deborah, Lisa and Eli.
.
Look! It's a Little Girl!
And a toddler at that! With a pacifier in her mouth. :D I saw this baby while I was standing in the
middle of the two roads, awaiting the runners with my digicam.
There Are the Runners
left photo: That runner in front looks more like he was in biking gear or something. Some unique-looking outfit he has on.
That's why he popped out for me. + right photo: Here's someone who my co-MSG seemed to know. I just forget what name
they were calling him. He looks like he was having the time of his life, like he was enjoying his running. Aw. Is that what it
feels... To be free! He he.
Some Clown-looking Ones
first two photos from left: Check that out. This man decided to run the marathon with a green curly-haired wig! He he. That is simply awesome.
far right photo: While this man (coming from his halfway turn already!) wore a very colourful stripe-y shirt. It's like a rainbow! Rainbow man! He he.
And the Green-wigged Man Is Past His Halfway Point
I wonder whether this Dubai policeman was curious. Or jealous. He he!
.
Flowers!
And plenty of them! Just on the sidewalks at the next stop of the MSG. This was where we would
await the runners on their 30/35th-kilometre mark. Winter flowers in the Gulf are beautiful, indeed.
A Cute-looking Doggie
I'm pretty awful at identifying breeds/types though. Nevertheless, this one looked adorable!
That Dog Again
And now you see its face! :D
Another One
This one's a blackie. Sweet. What was it with dogs watching the marathon? Ha ha. But it was nice. :)
I Caught A Lady with Two Kids
Yes! It's a woman with two babies in a stroller! I can't believe I took this picture. Did the woman notice I
was taking her shot? Ha ha!
Dubai Police
La la la... Your job looks very easy. And my, how fashionable you look! Check out that outfit. I want it.
The Police Dude Looks on at an Expatriate Woman and Her Two Kids
Or was he staring into space? Ha ha. I wonder if he was bored.
.
Another Little One!
Ha ha. Is it obvious yet that I love the little ones? This is my last child picture. Just about. I
noticed her, especially because she was wearing that number. Did she join the 3-kilometre fun
run? Aw, how cute! :D Then there's her little brother in his stroller, too.
.
The Man with the String Vest!
Yes! It's him! Ha ha. My co-MSG were pointing him out. They were very amused. :))
Toughing It out
Yes, these runners are hardcore! Why, you'd have to be crazy to be running a marathon! LOL.
left photo: This guy was sticking his tongue out and giving the thumbs down sign. Oh, dear.
right photo: And this chick is really something. He he. I actually saw her at the starting point,
outside Dubai Media City. She was stretching and everything, prepping herself up.
I kind of saw my self in her. A young lady joining a marathon.
An Old, Hippie-looking Man
Yeah! And how vintage he looks, too. With the shades and everything. And check out that beard. Ha ha.
It's Rainbow Man!
Smiling this time. It would be pretty unbelievable though if he was smiling right at me. Ha ha.
.
Mr. France
How clueless-looking he was at that point. Why, he didn't like people cheering for him? Ha ha!
You snobby French. LOL. (In case it's too small here, his vest says 'FRANCE'.)
It's Green-wigged Man again! And Someone from Japan.
Yeah, these are the runners I find interesting-looking. Ha ha!
Time to Go
It was finally time to head to the finish line for
the MSG. From then we looked for a cab to take
us to outside the Westin.
.
And We're at the Finish!
left photo: This man decided to enter the finish line with a baby! Of course, this got the attention
of the crowd up at the grandstand so they were cheering for him. He was then turning to the
crowd and showing the baby. Ha ha! + right photo: Yes! Rainbow man is finishing!
Italia!
(The woman's vest says 'ITALIA'.) These two ran to the finish together and with this flag in between them.
And He Has Made It!
Yes, this green-wigged man has become one highlight of the Dubai Marathon. Ha ha.
.
Balloons Flying Away
That's what you get for having a ton of balloons outdoors. In the left photo are the green ones
flying away and in the right, it was time for the blue balloons to fly away, too.
That wraps up the last of my Dubai trip series. So in a nutshell, I really went to Dubai just for the marathon. Next year, when I return to Dubai, I'll be coming for the marathon, too, but as a an actual participant. Yikes! Will I survive the whole race? In what time will I finish? Ha ha, I will reaaaallly have to train for it! Let's hope I get to train well this year. I need a training group/partner!
That aside, I really do want to go back to Dubai. For the sights, the feel, everything. I wanna be a tourist there, my gosh! So I was thinking: maybe on one of my trips from Manila to Muscat, I can take Malaysia Airlines flying until Dubai. Then at Dubai I can go for a day tour and maybe hop on one of those city tour buses (the ones open on the top just like the tour buses they have in US, ha ha). Then flying from Dubai to Muscat should be easy as there are many flights on that route. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind being stranded in Dubai. LOL.
Oh, Dubai, Dubai. Hah. I love the city after all.