Dubai: More than 80 athletes have confirmed for next week’s inaugural Tropic of Cancer Marathon (TOCM) to be held in the rugged sand dunes and salt flats of Al Qua’a desert in Abu Dhabi.
The marathon — to be held on October 29 — is the first-ever event to be held in Al Qua’a, which is a UAE border town with Oman, about 130km from Al Ain.
Hosted by well-known desert explorer and adventurer, Max Calderan, also known as the ‘Son of the Desert’, the upcoming event is an informal, non-competitive and self-timed run/jog/walk in desert terrain along the little known Tropic of Cancer line that crosses the Abu Dhabi emirate.
Dubai-based Calderan conceived TOCM to motivate people to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle — and also to give one’s family members, friends and work colleagues the unique opportunity to sample and appreciate the beautiful Arabian Desert first-hand in a fun, non-competitive and safe manner.
The Tropic of Cancer passes through only 17 countries, including the Bahamas, Mexico, Mauritania, Mali, Western Sahara, Algeria, Nigeria, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India, China, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Oman, Bangladesh, Burma and Taiwan.
The inaugural TOCM will comprise four distinct categories, namely the ultra-marathon (50km), a marathon (42.195km), a half-marathon (21.097km) and a fun run (10km).
Although scheduled to begin on October 29, TOCM 2016 participants also have the opportunity to camp overnight in Al Qua’a desert the previous day [October 28] where they will get to enjoy a BBQ and meet fellow participants.
The official partners of TOCM 2016 include NatGene, MonViso, Montura, Royal Aesthetics Polyclinic, Dubai Offroaders, Weekends with Albert and Tag Heuer.
The event will begin at 6.30am on October 29 and is open to the public, all ages on prior registration via a dedicated website (www.tropicofcancermarathon.com).
The 48-year-old Calderan has numerous solo odyssey desert and wilderness world records to his credit. Among other feats of extraordinary human endurance, he has walked solo for 90 hours non-stop along the Tropic of Cancer line in Oman for 437km and in early 2016 he again walked solo for 340km non-stop along the Tropic of Cancer from the border of Saudi Arabia, through Abu Dhabi and up to the Oman border in four days.
