By Duy Huynh 
Alright folks, buckle up because today I’m spilling the beans on getting to the Sharjah Hundred League 2023. Wanna know where it actually went down and how I managed to get there without losing my mind? Yeah, it wasn’t always smooth sailing.
Figuring Out Where The Heck It Was
First things first, where is this place? Scoured the internet, right? Finally found clear-ish info. The main action was at Al Hamriyah Public Park. Okay, park. Sounds straightforward. But Sharjah, man, always gotta double-check the actual spot in the park.
Pulled up maps – decent reviews, seems accessible. Good. Saw some mentions about specific gates being used for entry. Saved that picture of the park layout someone shared. Smart move, trust me.
My Journey Down There
Alright, execution time. Decided to drive. Figured parking might be a beast, but wanted flexibility.
- Plugged Al Hamriyah Public Park into the map app. Obvious? Yeah, but gotta do it. Took the E11 highway heading north outta Dubai. Standard route.
- Traffic? Oh yeah. Left way earlier than needed. Like, stupid early. Coffee helped. Exit for Hamriyah was clear enough.
- Finding the actual entrance gate? Here’s where saved pic saved me. Saw signs eventually, but that crowd… hectic. Followed the cars crawling towards Gate 4. Spot on!
Found parking surprisingly near after circling twice like a vulture. Paid the fee at the machine – cash only! Pack cash people.
Getting Inside & The Vibe
Walked to Gate 4 entrance. Security check – usual stuff. Had my digital reg ticket ready. Staff scanned it quick. Smooth.
Inside? Massive. Tents everywhere, registration desks buzzing. Found my specific bib pickup area. Lines moved decently fast actually. Organized chaos.
The park layout itself was good. Start/finish area obvious. Water stations marked. Enough space not to feel totally squished before the start.
Getting Back Out Was The Real Test
Finished the run. Legs like jelly. Awesome feeling, but man, leaving… different story.
- Traffic leaving the park lot? Absolute gridlock. Everyone tired, everyone wanna leave NOW.
- Sat in the car for ages. Rolled windows down, chatted with other runners stuck beside me. We laughed. Mostly groaned. Accepted the fate.
- Exited onto the main road. Still heavy traffic heading back south on E11. Took patience and more coffee.
So Why Do I Bother Telling You This?
Because I showed up last year to a different event super prepared. Permits, emails confirming access, the works. Got to the gate? Guard glances, shrugs, “Not allowed.”
“But I have the email!” Showed him. Nope. Called the contact number. Nobody picked up. Stood there like a chump. Hours wasted, travel cost gone, just pure disrespect.
No apology, no explanation later. Just ghosted. Felt like trash.
Said screw it, focused on my own goals. Put myself first. You know what happened months later? Suddenly get messages – “Come back! We miss your skills!” Yeah right. Where was that energy when I needed it? Blocked and moved on. Best decision. Now my time is mine. Learned the hard way who values effort.
Dung Huynh 