Dubai · Fitness guide
StringsSG · Updated
Week 1: Build the habit
Keep it easy so day 7 feels as doable as day 1. Alternate brisk 30-minute walks - the beach, the Marina walk or a park in the cooler evenings - with two short bodyweight sessions: squats, push-ups against a bench, lunges and planks.
Week 2: Add strength
Three strength sessions this week, 30 minutes each, using your building gym or dumbbells at home. On the other days, walk, swim or join a free class at one of the fitness villages. If you are aiming for the Dubai Run, add one longer walk or easy jog.
Week 3: Push a little
Lengthen one session to 45 minutes and add intervals to one cardio day - one minute fast, two minutes easy. Keep one full rest-style day of gentle stretching or a stroll: it still counts as activity and stops niggles turning into injuries.
Week 4: Make it stick
Pick the three sessions you enjoyed most and turn them into your weekly routine for December. Book them like meetings. If you did the challenge with friends or colleagues, agree one shared session a week after it ends.
Staying safe
- Train in the early morning or evening - midday can still be very warm.
- Drink before you feel thirsty and carry water on runs and rides.
- Start slower than you think, especially if you were inactive over summer.
- Stop if you feel chest pain, dizziness or unusual breathlessness, and see a doctor.
Keep going after day 30
A personal trainer at home or in your building gym, from AED 169 a session.
