Leg day’s final boss: With an ascent of 42 floors, across more than 700 stairs and 100 per cent of the profits going to charity, the M1 Run at Media One is a fitness challenge with a difference
Returning for its 12th edition on January 31, 2026 the M1 Run is a hot favourite with the city’s gel pack and Strava set.
Upwardly mobile
It’s a vertical race that pits runners against a 42 floor, calf-torching climb. And despite only spanning roughly 1.2km in length – every single step of that is an uphill struggle. Tickets start at just Dhs150, with options to bolt on a well earned breakfast at garden on 8 for an additional Dhs49.
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Hosted at Media One Hotel in Media City, this annual, gravity-taunting, elevator-eschewing event is known for supporting meaningful local and global charities, and the 2026 incarnation is no different.
This year Media One will be handing over a full 100 per cent of the profits raised by the run, to The Sparkle Foundation. It’s an organisation committed to funding life-changing projects in Malawi, with a focus on nutrition, education, healthcare, and civic empowerment.
Step one
The prize purse for the event sits at a substantial Dhs20,000 and includes giveaways and goodie bags. The M1 Run is open to individual runners and teams of four. Registration begins at 7.30am and the race starts at 9am on the morning of Saturday, January 31, 2026.
How to register for the M1 Run
You can register now at hopasports.com and the full price list looks like this.
- Dhs150 – Individual entry.
- Dhs199 – Entry with breakfast at garden on 8.
- Dhs500 – Team of four.
- Dhs699 – Entry for four with breakfast (for four) at garden on 8.
Talking about the event, Mark Lee, General Manager of Media One Hotel said, “we’re proud to support The Sparkle Foundation this year and look forward to an unforgettable event where fitness meets purpose.”
Time to step up and be counted.
Media One Hotel, Media City, 7.30am Sat 31 Jan, from Dhs150. hopasports.com
Images: Provided
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