Dubai: The Wings for Life World Run returns to Dubai Autodrome for the third time from 3pm on May 7. Runners in 24 countries will take part in the race simultaneously to raise money for the Wings for Life Foundation, which funds non-profit spinal cord research. Dubai is the only location in the Middle East taking part. Runners of all ability, including wheelchair participants, are encouraged to run with 100 per cent of the Dh195 entry fee going towards the foundation.
The race doesn’t have a set distance or time, instead runners must stay ahead of the Catcher Car, which crosses the line 30 minutes after the starting whistle, driving at a steadily increasing pace.
It’s essentially a ‘moving finish line’, meaning each individual’s race is over when they’re overtaken and the last individual man and woman to get caught will be crowned Global Champions.
Last year, records were smashed in both categories globally, when Japan’s Kaori Yoshida ran an impressive 65.78-km before the Catcher Car caught her up — and Giorgio Calcaterra of Italy became the first runner to break the 80-km mark when he completed a whopping 88.44km.
In 2016, the Dubai men’s division was won by Portuguese runner Helder Santos who reached 54.34-km, while Columbian Carolina Gutierrez was crowned women’s winner with a total distance of 21.52-km.
Since the Wings For Life World Run began in 2014, participants have raised a massive 13.8 million euros (Dhs53.94 million) and 2016 alone saw 130,732 registered runners take part in 34 locations across 12 time zones.
In previous years, Formula One’s David Coulthard, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz have driven the Catcher Car at various races to lend their support for the cause.
For more information visit www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com or www.wingsforlife.com.
