DUBAI // There has to be an easier way to spread the message of healthy living than swimming 10 kilometres, cycling 450km and then completing two marathons back to back.
But for Dubai schoolteacher Edward Hawkins, it is all about the challenge and passing on to his pupils, and in turn their parents, the lesson of good health.
"I do triathlons and Ironmans with the kids in the school," said Mr Hawkins, 37. "We've already seen 10 to 15 families getting active. The kids now want to go out on their bikes or get active and the parents follow.
"It's using the kids as a voice and when they go home they talk about it. We've had some talks from the staff to the children about healthy living and lifestyle and how they should lead it this week.
"They'll go home and reflect it back to the parents, and some of the parents are taking part in the 10km race" at the Dubai Marathon tomorrow.
Yesterday, Mr Hawkins completed a 10km swim and cycled 174km to begin his Ultraman challenge. Today he will cycle another 276km and tomorrow he will run two marathons.
Even with nine Ironman races under his belt, he will be on his last legs as he takes his place among hundreds of well-rested, primed runners.
Mr Hawkins will first run from his house in The Springs to the Repton School Dubai, which is exactly 42km. Then he will drive to the starting line for the Dubai event.
The Briton has been spreading the message of healthy living and diabetes prevention to his pupils at the Repton School Dubai, who have taken on their own challenge.
They have been swimming all week and yesterday took part in a 2km walk. Now the youngsters are entering aquathlons, which are swimming and running events.
"They are entering as individuals but we have between 20 to 30 pupils taking part," Mr Hawkins said.
"It's all coming from this healthy living and lifestyle message we've got them into."
Johnnie Kittermaster, head of Repton Junior School Dubai, said the message fits with the school's mission of promoting healthy living at an early age.
The school is adding up the number of kilometres covered by each pupil, setting them the goal of covering the distance between Repton Dubai and Repton UK.
Eloise Stewart Richardson had been swimming all week and took part in the 2km walk.
Mr Hawkins "is doing an amazing job in a crazy way", said Eloise, 10. "It's a good way to put the message out there."
Emilie Eaves, 9, who was also swimming and walking, said she had competed in mini-triathlons because of her teacher's influence.
Both girls said they would like to try an Ironman in a few years.
"I know what it's like to push myself for nine hours and be on the end of the envelope," Mr Hawkins said.
"I genuinely feel I am going back five years and doing my first Ironman. I don't know how it will go."
To get him through the challenge, he breaks up the distances in his mind.
He thought of the swim as 2.5km segments rather than one stretch of 10km.
"I've never run further than 42km," Mr Hawkins said. "I've broken it into eight lots of 10.5km. Each time I'll stop and take something proper on board and psychologically it makes it easier to deal with."
Instead of the usual energy gels endurance athletes take, Mr Hawkins plans to eat peanut butter and jam sandwiches because he is trying to keep his heart rate low, at 140 beats a minute.
Tonight he will be aching from the bike ride and will have to reduce the swelling in his joints to get some much-needed rest.
By the time the Dubai Marathon comes around tomorrow, his expects his feet will have swollen by one full shoe size, and he has a spare pair of trainers at the ready.
"I really don't know how I'll feel at the end. It'll be like how I feel after an Ironman but I'm worried what my feet will be like," he said.
"I'll be a bit relieved and a bit empty at the same time. I've been there before, but I certainly know I have work on Sunday morning."
eharnan@thenational.ae
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
HAJJAN
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Schedule:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
