Destinations • Marathons

7 Weeks Until Dubai!

11 years ago
2 Comments
by Charlie
Dubai Marathon
Written by Charlie

I am getting really excited now! 7 weeks from now is the Dubai Marathon (read my review from last year here). One of the aspects of that that gets me excited is that most of the marathons I have run have seen me starting training around now. 🙂 I am well into my current training program and really eyeing a huge PR (for me – we shall see!). Except for some calf issues, this training cycle has been going well with more speedwork and a PR in my recent half-marathon. If I stay healthy, it should work out well. The training really starts to ramp up from here!

Dubai Marathon

Travel

I have still not arranged for travel home from Dubai. 🙂 I have my travel there, my hotels booked, and booked my chauffer service (complimentary thanks to Etihad Airways). Here is my travel so far:

  • Flying Aegean Airlines to Athens from Thessaloniki (coach) – $39 (love their new low fares!)
  • Flying Etihad Airways from Athens to Abu Dhabi (business) – 30,000 AA miles and $68
  • Staying at the Radisson Blu Downtown Dubai – 44,000 Club Carlson points (per night, but the last night is free due to being a Club Carlson cardholder)
  • Coming home – ?
Dubai Marathon

Etihad Airways Business Class

My thoughts on coming home are split right now – I will either fly home on Turkish Airlines in economy using AegeanAirlines (20,000 miles) or United miles (17,500 miles) or I will fly home on Qatar using AA miles (in first class). I am heavily leaning towards flying home on Turkish in economy to save the miles. We shall see!

Marathon

I just paid the registration this week! I don’t know why I wait with the registration for marathons, but I do. I think it has something to do with my fear that I may sustain an injury and lose the money :). I will not be arriving into Abu Dhabi until 8PM the night before and then will be driven the couple of hours to the hotel. So, I will be eating my pre-race dinner onboard Etihad! 🙂 It also means I will need to get my packet at 5AM the morning of the marathon. The marathon starts at 7AM. I was there 1 hour before this year and was the only runner there! Oh well!

Stay tuned for more details about the race and the different ways to get there. Anyone planning on being there? I know Kathy from Will Run for Miles will be there just after the marathon – anyone else? 🙂

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About the author

Charlie

Charlie has been an avid traveler and runner for many years. He has run in marathons around the world for less than it would cost to travel to the next town - all as a result of collecting and using miles and points. Over the years, he has flown hundreds of thousands of miles and collected millions of miles and points.
Now he uses this experience and knowledge to help others through Running with Miles.

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2 Comments

  • any reason you picked Radisson Blu Downtown Dubai instead of Radisson Blu Deira Creek? Was debating if i wanted to stay at a Radisson in DXB or not on points.

    • I actually ended up staying at the Radisson Blu Residence because they changed the course a few weeks out and it was closer to the Residence than either the Downtown location or Deira Creek. I will have a review of that location this week.