Legendary runner Dame Kelly Holmes confirmed for Daman’s ActiveLife Electric Run

Legendary runner Dame Kelly Holmes confirmed for Daman’s ActiveLife Electric Run

One of Great Britain’s favourite runners Dame Kelly Holmes is set to participate in the first Daman’s ActiveLife Electric Run in Meydan, Dubai, on 6 November 2015. Dubbed as the ‘World’s Brightest 5K night run’ the event is expected to attract thousands of people for an unforgettable night of excitement.

Dame Kelly has been a regular visitor to the region in recent years as a Daman ActiveLife ambassador and is closely involved in the health insurance company’s community-related sports initiatives. The Olympic champion has just signed up to do her first ever Electric Run which will see her take to the starting line in Meydan with thousands of participants on 6 November.

“I am looking forward to it! Any run at night time is quite exciting - it puts you in a mind-set of going out and doing something enjoyable. What I like about it is the combination of music, neon lights and adventurous course lands which makes the event so appealing,” said Holmes. “I’m a big kid at these places; I throw myself in and just enjoy it and encourage everyone else to.”

Tickets for Daman’s ActiveLife Electric Run have gone on sale to the public earlier this week with a limited number of discounted ‘early bird’ tickets available to buy at www.ElectricRun.ae. Ticket prices for the event are AED 185 for individuals and are currently sold online and across all Fitness First Clubs in the UAE. Teams of four or more receive a discounted rate of AED 165 per person and tickets can only be bought online. Prices will increase from 5 September so fans are encouraged to grab their tickets soon before they sell out.

As Ambassador for National Health Insurance Company – Daman’s ActiveLife initiative, Dame Kelly Holmes supports efforts to cultivate sports talent in the region and is involved in programmes such as the Future Champion Programme. She has also participated in a number of mass participation events and is looking forward to adding ActiveLife Electric Run to her ‘must-do’ list for this year.

“This is attainable for everybody, the distances aren’t that far in the scheme of things and it’s something that seems enjoyable and exciting. You’ve got a whole range of things going on – colour, music, lights - and in people’s head they think about how much fun they are having and forget that they’re actually running. There will be a fantastic atmosphere” said Holmes.

Born in Kent in 1970, Holmes had been identified as one of the outstanding track talents of her generation growing up. She won the English Schools junior 1,500 metres in 1983 and the senior race in 1987. Holmes then joined the army where she was a physical training instructor and continued to be outstanding at sport becoming the British Army women’s judo champion. This changed in 1992, when Holmes returned to top-class athletics. The following year, she won her first Grand Prix race in Stockholm. The medals started to come and included a silver and bronze at the 1995 World Championships. The biggest highlight of her running career was at the Athens Olympics in 2004 when she won gold in both the 800 metres and the 1,500 metres.

Today, Holmes is one of the world’s most respected sports personalities who continues to involve herself in supporting and mentoring young talents both in the UK and in the region with Daman’s ActiveLife initiative.

Electric Run is hailed as the world’s brightest 5K night run. Daman’s ActiveLife Electric Run will feature seven themed ‘wonderlands’ which include Electro Rainforest, Rainbow Road, Candy Lane, Neffmaus Land, Colour Brick Road, The Powerhouse and Under the Sea. Since 2013, more than 30 cities have hosted Electric Run and millions of people worldwide have celebrated the world’s brightest 5K. The inaugural Middle East events are set to take place in Dubai on 6 November 2015 and Abu Dhabi in early 2016.