Nationality: Emirati
Occupation: Police Officer, UAE Represented Champion Runner, Abu Dhabi Elected Team Instructor
An amazing moment in the history of the UAE and the Arab sporting world, Rashid Butti Al Qubaisi is the first Arab and GCC national to ever win the XDubai Spartan Race which was held for the first time in Bahrain last April 1, 2016. Other than this, he has been on a racing streak this year with several other victories during the 2015/2016 season. We sit down with him and talk how this could be his luckiest year to date.
Congratulations on winning the Spartan Race in Bahrain!
How do you feel about it?
It was extremely hard but I really wanted to do it. I have been ready for it since running in finishing 9th in Dubai back in 2013 and in France in 2014. Other than that, I also participated in the Spartan Elite Sprint category last October 2015 where I finished 20th out of the 25,000 competitors.
After those races, I signed up for the Bahrain Spartan Race with all my hopes and dreams to reach for the top spot. And in Bahrain, I had a date with glory and I am very honoured to be the first Emirati and first Arab to ever win this international competition.
What kind of preparation did you have to get ready for the race?
I had a very specific and specialized training as well as a very strict diet. I did mountains, sands, cycling vertical marathons and some time at the gym. One of the most notable aspects of my training was running with some weights since this helped me a lot during the Spartan Race. The support from His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Mohammad al Nahyan to prepare me for the elements and the places also contributed a great deal to get ready for the event.
Did you encounter any challenges or difficulties during the race?
Being the toughest race in the world, Yes. I’m not really that muscular and when people see me in the photos they could easily think “I’m not the type to pull this off”. The most intense parts for me would be running with the 15-20 kilo weights for 1k over up and down sand and pulling tyres for 50 metres.
We hear that this has been your lucky year; would you tell us about it?
This year is my glorious and best year because I have been winning a lot of races. I won the Desert Warrior Challenge for two years in a row now, the Wadi Adventure
Race 10k and 15k and I won the RAK Half Marathon 21k as part of the UAE national team out of the 177 teams participating. I was also hailed top individual in the ITU World Triathlon in Abu Dhabi and of course, being the first Emirati to become the an International World Champion in the XDubai Spartan Race!
I’m also thankful for the races where I placed such as the Zayed Marathon where I finished 5th and the Dubai Marathon as well where I finished 3rd in the 10k Elite Local.
Being the first GCC national to win the Spartan Race, how are you setting an example for other GCC nationals?
I inspire them with hard work and a love for sport. I always say to everyone to” be honest in your training and the sport will take you places that you never been.” Other than that, I would like to continue to succeed and raise the UAE flag in all continents so that the world will recognize us as competent athletes.
Your advice to Arabs who would like to follow your footsteps?
Train hard, nothing is impossible with a very strategic plan. If you have purpose you will reach your goals.
Do you have a message to the people that helped you get to where you are?
I would like to thank four very important people that helped me with all my achievements: Mr. Mubarak Saeed Al Hidly Al Mansoori, Mohammed bin Ameer bin Yousef, Rashid Darwish al Qithbi and Nasr Butti bin Ameer. Special mention goes to my trainer Mohammed al Amin Saak who discovered me. A shout out to my mother club – Al Jazira Club!
I would like to also dedicate this victory to the UAE government, the Ministry of Police and to our General Police Director, H.E. Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi.
What do you think of the UAE’s initiatives on outdoor and fitness?
Actually the UAE’s sport councils are doing their best to make achievements in the sports by training future world champions for ITU, Ironman, triathlon, cycling etc. Nowadays there’s a lot of initiatives that encourage Arabs to make a mark in the outdoor field.
Lastly, what is the next achievement you’re hoping to gain?
Another Spartan Race victory! This would be my greatest achievement for this year and I’m getting very close to it…
