Ninth Oman Desert Marathon from Jan 20
Four-stage ranking race to attract top desert runners from around the world
Published: 04:11 PM,Nov 17,2023 | EDITED : 08:11 PM,Nov 17,2023
Oman Desert Marathon
Muscat: Sultanate of Oman’s signature desert expedition turns nine as the new edition of the Oman Desert Marathon will be held from January 20 to 23, 2024 on the golden sands of Bidiyah, according to the organisers on Friday.
Launched in 2013, the Oman Desert Marathon is a self-sufficient 165 km race with four stages, including a night stage, across the spectacular Omani landscape and its varieties, from the Oasis Al Wasil, crossing the desert to Al Jawharat Resort.
The race is divided into four stages: 42 km on day one, 55 km on day two, 47 km on day three (night stage), and 21 km on the fourth and final day. Like in the eighth edition, the Oman Desert Marathon will continue to be recognised by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) so that the athletes will get international ranking points for their participation.
The world trail running body has approved the race with 4 ITRA points, 1 Mountain point, and confirming the distance of 164.20 km with a positive 2030 m elevation gain. The eighth edition was actively participated by Omanis, who made up the majority of the runners, as well as a number of participants from various parts of the world, including Spain, France, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, Poland, Britain, Belgium, Switzerland and Morocco.
Swiss Corina Sommer claimed the honours in the women’s category while Morocco’s Mohamed El Morabity triumphed in the men’s category. As for the Omani runners, Saleh al Saidi, Sami al Saidi and Hamdan al Khatri made up the top three.
In the ninth edition, which is taking place in Bidiyah as per ODM traditions, there will also be shorter races in addition to the main event, which will start one day earlier, on January 19. The shorter races are for distances of 10 km, 5 km and 2 km, which proved to be quite popular in the last edition. Racers who wish to run longer distances of 42 km and 21 km will also have the chance to do so on January 20.
NIGHT DESERT RUN
For those in Muscat, there will also be a chance participate in a night desert run, which will take place in October 2024 in Ghala. This will be the second edition of the 5 km Night Trail charity race, and it will give participants the unique opportunity to enjoy a run (or a walk) under the beautiful starlit desert sky. ODM donated 100% of its profits to the Environment Society of Oman.
The 165 km Oman Desert Marathon Classic also has a night stage, and that was purposely orchestrated with the aim of giving runners the chance to experience the magical dessert night sky, as well as to raise environmental awareness and motivate participants to help protect and conserve Oman's natural heritage.
Besides the classic 165 km race which attracts runners from all around the world, as far as Japan and Georgia, there are local races of different distances on January 20 which also attracts international runners to test the desert before jumping into the four stages challenge. The main 165 km race will be from January 20-23, 2024 and the shorter races of 42 km, 21 km, 10 km, 5 km and 2 km for kids will be also on January 20, 2024.
INSPIRING RUNNER
“We are very proud and excited that the next edition our race will be enriched by an inspiring runner that demonstrates that our physical or personal limitations are not reasons for not achieving our goals. Pol Makuri, a Spanish athlete, was born with hemiparesis, a cerebral paralysis that affected the development of the right side of his body. It has never been an obstacle for him, all the opposite, it has motivated him to overcome and live amazing adventures,” the organisers said.
Pol will run the Omani Desert Carrying all the food, sleeping bag and daily gear together with Albert Jorquera, a Spanish Journalist who specialises in Trail and Ultratrail. Albert has run the ODM in January this year so he will be a good mentor while Pol gets ready for the epic adventure. They will embark on it as a team, a unique journey to discover the most remote, untouched sands and the highest dunes of the Omani Desert on the tracks of the ancient caravans.
Launched in 2013, the Oman Desert Marathon is a self-sufficient 165 km race with four stages, including a night stage, across the spectacular Omani landscape and its varieties, from the Oasis Al Wasil, crossing the desert to Al Jawharat Resort.
The race is divided into four stages: 42 km on day one, 55 km on day two, 47 km on day three (night stage), and 21 km on the fourth and final day. Like in the eighth edition, the Oman Desert Marathon will continue to be recognised by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) so that the athletes will get international ranking points for their participation.
The world trail running body has approved the race with 4 ITRA points, 1 Mountain point, and confirming the distance of 164.20 km with a positive 2030 m elevation gain. The eighth edition was actively participated by Omanis, who made up the majority of the runners, as well as a number of participants from various parts of the world, including Spain, France, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, Poland, Britain, Belgium, Switzerland and Morocco.
Swiss Corina Sommer claimed the honours in the women’s category while Morocco’s Mohamed El Morabity triumphed in the men’s category. As for the Omani runners, Saleh al Saidi, Sami al Saidi and Hamdan al Khatri made up the top three.
In the ninth edition, which is taking place in Bidiyah as per ODM traditions, there will also be shorter races in addition to the main event, which will start one day earlier, on January 19. The shorter races are for distances of 10 km, 5 km and 2 km, which proved to be quite popular in the last edition. Racers who wish to run longer distances of 42 km and 21 km will also have the chance to do so on January 20.
NIGHT DESERT RUN
For those in Muscat, there will also be a chance participate in a night desert run, which will take place in October 2024 in Ghala. This will be the second edition of the 5 km Night Trail charity race, and it will give participants the unique opportunity to enjoy a run (or a walk) under the beautiful starlit desert sky. ODM donated 100% of its profits to the Environment Society of Oman.
The 165 km Oman Desert Marathon Classic also has a night stage, and that was purposely orchestrated with the aim of giving runners the chance to experience the magical dessert night sky, as well as to raise environmental awareness and motivate participants to help protect and conserve Oman's natural heritage.
Besides the classic 165 km race which attracts runners from all around the world, as far as Japan and Georgia, there are local races of different distances on January 20 which also attracts international runners to test the desert before jumping into the four stages challenge. The main 165 km race will be from January 20-23, 2024 and the shorter races of 42 km, 21 km, 10 km, 5 km and 2 km for kids will be also on January 20, 2024.
INSPIRING RUNNER
“We are very proud and excited that the next edition our race will be enriched by an inspiring runner that demonstrates that our physical or personal limitations are not reasons for not achieving our goals. Pol Makuri, a Spanish athlete, was born with hemiparesis, a cerebral paralysis that affected the development of the right side of his body. It has never been an obstacle for him, all the opposite, it has motivated him to overcome and live amazing adventures,” the organisers said.
Pol will run the Omani Desert Carrying all the food, sleeping bag and daily gear together with Albert Jorquera, a Spanish Journalist who specialises in Trail and Ultratrail. Albert has run the ODM in January this year so he will be a good mentor while Pol gets ready for the epic adventure. They will embark on it as a team, a unique journey to discover the most remote, untouched sands and the highest dunes of the Omani Desert on the tracks of the ancient caravans.