The UAE’s first Du Tough Mudder event is three weeks away. For those unsure of what to expect, here are some tips from Chris James, a 48-year-old Briton who was the first person in Europe to complete 50 Tough Mudder events.
Chris James’s top tips for Du Tough Mudder
1. Keep an open mind: Too many times people get nervous and don't attempt an obstacle but once you've tried/completed it, you'll find the obstacles aren't so bad.
2. Bring a smile: Chances are you will need help on some of the bigger obstacles no matter how tough you are (they are designed that way), so smile and be positive, you'll see a helping hand soon enough
3. Keep moving: If you've just had a go at a water obstacle it's a good idea to keep moving – don't hang around. If you're waiting for a teammate then at least swing your arms and legs around, or do burpees if you're tough.
4. Leave your gloves at home: Although they can prevent cuts and scrapes on "mud mile" or other crawls, gloves don't help on and of the big obstacles. In fact they usually make things worse.
5. Return the favour: You've cleared an obstacle, with or without help – that's great. Now turn around and help the Mudder behind you, they may need it.
6. Embrace the suck. You will get cold, tired and dirty, that's the fun part, so stop trying to skip around things to keep your new sports gear clean. If you're clean at the end then you didn't do it.
7. Run, walk or crawl, but finish: Most courses are between 16 and 19 kilometres and not everyone can run that far. If you're struggling then walk or crawl but keep moving forward and you'll get there. When you're getting tired, conserve energy by walking the hills
8. Bring a change of clothes and a towel: Chances are your clothes will be wet, muddy and smelly so make sure you have something clean and dry to wear when you're done.
9. Take advantage of the strong: There will be times when you need a hand. Don't be afraid to ask for help, sometimes if you don't ask for assistance people may think you're coping OK
10. Have fun: Du Tough Mudder is a challenge, not a race, so take your time and remember to enjoy it.
10 things not to do
1. Don't feel you're alone: One of the big things about Tough Mudder is that even if you turn up on your own (usually because your friends bailed) you are joining one big team. That team includes everyone running that day, the volunteers and the crew from tough Mudder. This is important because you may have turned up a lone runner but you will go home a Mudder and part of the tribe. You're never alone at Tough Mudder unless you want to be.
2. Don't quit: This is another big one. Doing these events can be tough, but that's the point. Most people will find things that they feel they can't do. Do them anyway… You're there to push yourself and the people around you will help you through.
3. Don't be that person: This may seem odd but many people get so caught up in the adrenaline they wave a hand for help and then once they have been helped they run off to continue without offering help to others. Don't. We're all in this together.
4. Don't buy lots of brand new clothes: They are likely to get destroyed so unless you really do have money to waste use something old and comfortable that you don't mind ruining
5. Don't run through electric obstacles: Many people feel the urge to run through. Don't – unless you want to be very entertaining for everyone else.
6. Don't forget to drink: It's better to hydrate leading up to your event. Do not wait until you're on course. If you feel thirsty, then you're already dehydrating.
7. Don't jump blind: Always look below you at water obstacles and even on mud-mile because it's easy to land on someone if you don't pay attention. Both of you can get hurt.
8. Don't open your mouth: It's not a great idea to eat the mud or drink the water so keep your mouth closed and blow out when you come out of a water obstacle.
9. Don't obstruct the course: Some people may be moving faster than you so let them pass. If you're walking in a group make sure there is a passage to one side so people can get past.
10. Don't ignore the safety briefing: Some vital information will be given so pay attention. You'll have time to talk with your mates on course. If you were injured you wouldn't want to be surrounded by people who hadn't listened to the safety briefing.
healthyliving@thenational.ae
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Mahmouda, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AS Jezan, George Buckell, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Dolman, Antonio Fresu, Bhupath Seemar
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Apple%20Mac%20through%20the%20years
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Copa del Rey final
Sevilla v Barcelona, Saturday, 11.30pm (UAE), match on Bein Sports
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Bharatanatyam
A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.
List of alleged parties
May 15 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at
least 17 staff members
May 20 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'bring your own booze'
party
Nov 27 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary
Gavin Williamson
Dec 13 2020: PM and Carrie throw a flat party
Dec 14 2020: London mayor candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative
Party headquarters
Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
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