by David Chambers

While I’m from New Zealand, I currently live in Dubai. Dubai has been built out of nothing in the past six to eight years. It is now home to the world’s tallest tower (828m), the world’s biggest shopping mall and many similar things. Like many other countries around the world it was hit hard by recent economic events, meaning Dubai was never really finished and still looks very much like a construction site in many areas which makes finding a place to train very difficult.

With the economic impact, the Dubai Tri club also folded; there is no tri club here at present. Races are during the cooler months (September to March). The best race for me here is the Long Distance race in Abu Dhabi. It’s a race tailored by Faris Al Sultan: 3km swim, 200km bike and a 20km run (a strong cyclist’s dream).

The climate is what you would expect in desert city bordered by coast: summer up to 49C/120F. I do not even park outside, the car overheats -- plastics and CDs get warped.

Swimming
There are no public pools here! The sea is forever clean and beautiful clear white sand, but try doing 50m pool sets in the sea! Today’s sea water temperature is 31 degrees; you soon get a massive headache sticking you head under water and doing a swim session. It just doesn’t work for the really hot months and you need to stay out of the sea for June, July and August.

Around here, even the pools are cooled. My level of swimming means I still need to improve technique and push via swim sets, so I’m sticking to the pool. The only option has been for me to join a master’s swim group and gain access to a 25m pool at a local school.

Running
Finding a place to run given the unfinished construction and heat is a constant challenge. There are a few parks, and there are morning run groups, but getting my daughter to school and work means I can’t attend these.

To get out in nature which I love, my solution has been beach running. Running along the beach edge half in sand, half in water, is one of my joys in life now! It’s a good workout once a week and I stay at the shore’s edge running on the hard sand watching the boats, sunbathers and skydivers (it’s a very active beach). I even get strides done and find with a quick cadence I can whip across the firm sand.

It’s all flat here, so not much scope for hill training. Last December I ran the marathon here -- its supposed to be the flattest marathon in the world.

With the days really starting to heat up this time of year, I cannot run outside at all, so I have a treadmill set up at home. Gordo and I have started to experiment with various slope sets to simulate hill running. Ultimately I am sure these sessions will help my run times. I place the treadmill facing the sea view, so I’m not too bored. Even with the aircon up max, I sweat like mad. I have plans to get a big fan...

I also do stair running (my tower has 44 levels, and I’m on level 7) as an option for when I can’t run outdoors.

Cycling
I love weekend rides, but there lots of challenges here. Ultimately there are no safe roads to ride by yourself. Drivers here are reckless, highways have speed limits of 120+km/hr and there is roadwork everywhere -- meaning not much space for cyclists!

The only feasible option is to join a cycling group. So every Friday morning, upwards of about 120 riders gather at 5:30 to ride either an 80km or 120km loop out into the desert. It’s a long ride, good pace with sprints along the way. We ride the quieter roads (still 4-6 lanes each way).

It’s not ideal bike training for ironman, but it does get me in the saddle for three or more hours every week.

During the rides, everyone carries at least two big bottles and we have a support car (we take turns volunteering) that carries water and also drives ahead to big roundabouts to hold cars for safety. It has large flashing lights -- at times I dream I’m on the Tour de France... but then we pass a camel. We stop every 90 minutes for drink bottle refilling.

We start early to avoid as much heat as possible about 32C/90F at the start and up to 44C/111F when we finish. On occasions, we hit winds and get blasted by sand, we ride as a pack into the wind, with no one talking for fear of getting a mouthful of sand. Most days however, it’s dead still and full of chat.

Wednesday evenings I try to ride the 2.5km car racing track. They open it Wednesday evenings to the public cyclists, runners and rollerbladders. Cycling 2.5km loops on a racing car track it a great way to pace control and the small hill adds intensity.

Turbo riding at home is also an obvious necessity.

Summary
The heat means I must constantly be prepared before a session with drinks and staying as cool as possible. Getting dehydrated during a session means I’ll be in bad shape for the coming two or three days which directly affects my consistency and ability to hit the next session.

Where there is a will there is a way! I have learned to compromise, focus on the big picture and peg it back where necessary. I love training, but try to keep is real and realistic. My wife and daughter of course take priority, then work (I am an architect). When these two are priorities are addressed I train best. My best sessions are when I’m at peace!