Burj2Burj is one of those races that looks simple on paper and feels very different once you start preparing for it. It attracts first-time half marathoners, experienced runners, and people coming back after long breaks, injuries, or life interruptions. That mix is exactly what makes the race special — and also what makes preparation tricky.

In this conversation, Burj2Burj ambassador Vanessa Pungs shares her personal journey into running, the mistakes she made early on, and the lessons that shaped her approach to endurance, recovery, and community. We talk about training without panic, fueling without obsession, and why consistency and self-respect matter far more than last-minute heroics. This isn't a guide to running fast — it is a guide to arriving at the start line ready.

— Let’s start from the beginning. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how running entered your life?

— I started running just under five years ago, in 2021, when I was living in London. At the time, there was a big Couch to 5K campaign happening. It was during lockdown, so there really wasn’t much you could do. You couldn’t go out, you couldn’t socialise properly, and running around the park was basically the only allowed activity.

A few of my friends and I decided to try it, mostly out of boredom. None of us were runners. I definitely wasn’t sporty in that way — I had always done a bit of yoga, some low-impact classes, but nothing endurance-based. Running felt intimidating at first, but surprisingly, after a few weeks, it started to feel quite rewarding.

There was something about having a simple goal — running a little bit further each time — that really worked for me mentally. It gave structure to days that otherwise felt very empty.

Then one of my friends — and she really is a bit crazy — suggested that we sign up for a half marathon. I remember agreeing almost without thinking. At that point, I honestly didn’t even know how long a half marathon was. The longest run I had done was five kilometres.

She then said, very casually, “Let’s do it in 30 days.”

So essentially, I went from running 5K to training for a half marathon in about 25 days. Looking back, it was definitely not the smartest approach, but it was a huge learning experience.

We ran the race in Crystal Palace in London, which I later found out is one of the hilliest areas you could possibly choose. At the time, I didn’t know anything about elevation profiles or course difficulty. I just thought running was running.

It was really tough on my knees and ankles, but it was also incredibly empowering. I had never done anything longer than about 45 minutes before, and suddenly I was pushing my body for hours. That experience was my first real introduction to endurance sports.

What I loved most was the process — seeing progress, gradually increasing distance, learning what my body could do. Even though it was hard, it felt meaningful.

After that race, I kept running on and off, but I didn’t really identify as a runner or an athlete. It felt more like something I had done once, a box I had ticked.

About a year and a half later, I moved to Dubai. And when I arrived, I noticed that everyone here does some kind of sport — padel, cycling, swimming, running. There is a huge focus on movement and fitness, and I found myself drawn back to running, especially because of the community.

I decided that if I had done a half marathon in London, I wanted to do one in my new home as well. That is when I signed up for Burj2Burj for the first time.

I signed up for Burj2Burj pretty quickly after moving here. At that point, I felt more confident than I had in London, mostly because I had some experience and I knew what a half marathon actually meant. But it was still a big challenge.

Running in Dubai is very different. The heat, even in winter, is something you have to respect. You can’t just go out and run the way you would in Europe. You have to think about timing, hydration, and recovery. That changed my whole approach to training.

What really stood out to me, though, was the community. From the very beginning, Burj2Burj felt incredibly welcoming. It didn’t feel like an elite race. It felt like an event for everyone — people running their first-ever half marathon, people coming back after injury, people running purely for the experience.

On race day, the atmosphere was amazing. Standing at the start line, I remember feeling nervous but also very calm at the same time. People were chatting, laughing, and taking photos. There was no sense of pressure or comparison. No one cared about pace or performance — it was more about being there together.

Running through the city was also very special. You see Dubai differently when you’re on foot. Roads that are usually busy suddenly feel quiet and open. The city feels softer, almost more human. For a few hours, it feels like the city belongs to runners.

That first Burj2Burj really changed how I saw running in Dubai. It made me realise that running here wasn’t just about fitness — it was about belonging.

After that race, I started running more consistently. I joined run groups, met new people, and slowly built a routine around it. Running became something I relied on, not just physically, but mentally as well.

Then, not long after, I started experiencing some health issues. At first, I didn’t think much of it. I was training, feeling strong, enjoying life, so I assumed everything was fine.

Eventually, I decided to do a full health check. That is when the doctors found fibroids on my uterus and ovaries. They explained that surgery would be necessary to remove them.

I will be honest — I didn’t handle that news very well at first. I felt like I was at the peak of my fitness, enjoying movement more than ever, and suddenly I was being told that I would need surgery and a long recovery period without training.

I buried my head in the sand for a while. I didn’t want to accept it. I kept training, even though my symptoms were getting worse. It was only when things became impossible to ignore that I finally agreed to the surgery.

The operation happened in November 2024. I was 26 at the time. The fibroids were removed, and I was told very clearly that I would need at least 12 weeks before returning to proper physical activity.

For someone like me, that was terrifying. Movement has become such a big part of my identity and my mental health. The idea of stopping completely felt overwhelming.

And me being me, I said: the doctors have said that I can start training again, or at least start going back to my activities, in 12 weeks. So I thought, why don’t I do a triathlon in 12 weeks?

At best, I was a leisure swimmer — a bit of swimming on holiday. Cycling-wise, I had never done anything beyond a spin class. I had never done any serious cycling at all. And there I was, recovering after a serious surgery, deciding that I was going to do a triathlon.

And I did exactly that.

Almost exactly 12 weeks to the day after surgery — from honestly not being able to walk properly for about six weeks, taking time off work, and only really training for about a month — I completed my first triathlon in Abu Dhabi. It was a sprint triathlon, and it was an amazing experience.

I think I have built my whole ethos around building communities and bringing people together around this idea of setbacks and challenges. No matter what is going on in your life — personally, professionally, physically — you can always use movement, sport, and fitness to facilitate that comeback and return.

For me, every journey I have had has been through people. Running with friends, a friend encouraging me, cycling during triathlon training, joining Tri Dubai — all of that played a huge role. So yes, that is quite a long answer to your question, but that is kind of me, endurance sports, and where I am now.

Funny story — I actually left my Burj2Burj medal behind at the finish line. I was completely confused and overwhelmed. So the week after the race, I went into the Burj2Burj office and said, “Hey guys, here’s my photo, here’s proof that I finished — could you give me a replacement medal?”

I ended up talking to the team and telling them my story, and they said, “We love your story. You’re exactly the type of person we want to work with.”

They told me that for the next edition, in 2026, they would love to sign me on as an ambassador, with a strong focus on community and inspiring people through my story. And that is how I became part of the Burj2Burj team.

— Burj2Burj is in one week. There will be people who will run it straight from the sofa. I did that once — I hadn’t run at all before, my pace was around 6:30, but I didn’t get injured. I was lucky. For people who are going to run this half marathon with zero or very little running background, what advice would you give?

— I would say that a week is enough time to build a framework.

The most important thing between now and then is fuel — nutrition and hydration. Especially in a climate like the UAE, the worst thing you can do is show up hungry or dehydrated.

Burj2Burj is a very professional race. There are lots of hydration stations and fruit on the course. But you want to make sure that in the week leading up to the race, you are eating well and drinking plenty of water, so that your body is in the best possible condition at the start line.

You don’t want to rely on fixing dehydration halfway through the race after being dehydrated for days before.

You can actually do a lot in a short period of time in terms of cell renewal. Eat well, drink a lot in the days leading up. Some people have different views on electrolytes — if you don’t like the fancy ones, even adding a bit of Himalayan salt to your water can help.

You will sweat a lot during the race. Adrenaline will be high, especially if you are starting from zero. You are likely to overheat. Drink water. Drink water. Drink water.

The third thing is sleep — although we all know what life is like in the UAE.

— And in terms of nutrition?

— I don’t believe in aggressive carb loading. My whole ethos is not to shock your body before a race.

If you normally have a balanced diet — fiber, carbs, protein — suddenly eating ten plates of pasta in the week before a race isn't going to help you.

Instead, be more conscious. If you usually focus more on protein or fats, maybe add a bit more rice or carbs in the days leading up. At least 24 hours before the race, have a predominantly carb-focused meal.

For beginners, Burj2Burj has a three-hour cut-off. You aren't running a marathon or an ultra. Moderate carbs are enough.

If you have never used gels before, don’t start now. I didn’t use gels seriously until four years into endurance training, and I was fine before that.

Your body can break down carbohydrates from food. Gels are just a faster delivery system — like an intravenous drip straight into the veins — but food works too.

Don’t overcomplicate things with complex supplements. Just eat well, hydrate, and be sensible.

A lot of people say, “The race is at 6:30 in the morning — I can’t eat.” I get that. Digestion is slow early in the morning.

You have two options. One: train yourself to wake up earlier in the days before the race and practice eating something small. Or two: if you truly can’t eat, have something very light and digestible — a banana, some nuts, a rice cake with peanut butter or jam.

Eat something before the race. Adrenaline burns calories fast, and you don’t want to hit a wall early.

One thing I really want to stress is that fueling isn't about perfection. People get very anxious about doing everything “right,” but anxiety itself is already stressful for the body. The goal is to give yourself enough energy to get through the race feeling stable.

You don’t need to copy what elite athletes are doing. Their fueling strategies are built for years of training, very high volume, and very specific physiological adaptations. As a beginner or recreational runner, your job is much simpler: don’t start depleted, and don’t ignore hunger or thirst signals.

If you are nervous on race morning — which most people are — that adrenaline will mask hunger. That doesn’t mean your body doesn’t need fuel. It just means you need to be intentional about it.

Hydration is the same. Drink consistently in the days leading up to the race. Don’t suddenly try to “fix” dehydration on race morning. That never works.

— And during the race, how much food should you eat? Gels, bananas, whatever?

— So my rule of thumb is that I generally try to fuel every 30 to 45 minutes. For example, if you are running a two-hour or two-and-a-half-hour half marathon, I actually prefer to set a small timer on my phone or something that just vibrates on my Apple Watch or whatever device you have. That way you remind yourself to hydrate, take a gel, have some fruit, or eat something.

Some people are different. Some people like to run very light during races and don’t want to carry anything on them. If you are someone who prefers that, make sure you look at the race map and see where the aid stations are so you can time your nutrition properly.

One of the best things I was ever told — and why I prefer to keep my own nutrition on me as a backup — is that you don’t need to stick rigidly to a plan. If I am midway through a run, pushing harder than usual, and I start to feel a dip, I will take out a small energy bar, some nuts, or whatever I have in my pocket, even if I wasn’t “scheduled” to eat for another 20 minutes.

You need to respond to your body. The same applies at aid stations. If you feel thirsty, stop. Fuel before crashes, not after.