Oman Desert Marathon 2019 – Stage 1

After a chilly night at the desert runners from around the world got ready for the race. The atmosphere at the runner’s camp was filled with adrenaline and their excitement to run in exotic beautiful Oman. Runners had their last warm breakfast before embarking in the desert from 6 days in a total self-sufficient adventure.

Athletes were taken to the start line, where the first day of Oman Desert Marathon officially started, celebrating the 49^th anniversary of the National Day of Oman in the village of Alhawyah, Bidiyah. Traditional dances, horses and camels opened the ceremony attended by local officials, international runners came from 15 countries to race in the Omani spectacular but yet challenging desert.

The route started with big climb that proved challenging for many of the participants, however the course did not have abundant raised areas until the finish line.

This year there are two short distances were added. The half marathon and the 3 km fun run for families and kids. More than 50 runners from Muscat and other locations came to Bidiya to have a taste of desert running, and  40  kids took  part in the challenge of the family run, showing their enthusiasm for the outdoors and adventure.

Oman Desert Marathon encouraged participants to use reusable bottles. It is crucial that we protect the environment and keep the natural surroundings as untouched as possible. At 5 km check point runner Rachid Almurabity from Morocco was in the lead, followed by a gap of one minute by Evgeni Glyva from Ukraine.

Several runners of the Oman Desert Marathon are supporting charities from their home countries, using it as inspiration to cross the desert with enthusiasm. Those are the cases of 2 runners from Switzerland raising funds to support an ONG in Africa that promotes women’s education and Fran Mcewen from New Zealand that supports a charity for young women wellbeing back in her home country.

The last part to get to the finish line  needed a last effort as it also finished with a considerable size dune.  The first position was for Rachid Almurabity, 2^nd for Mohammed Almurabity and 3^rd position for Evgeni Glyva. The first woman to arrive was Aziza Raji.

Oman Desert Marathon 2019 All Ranking

Oman Desert Marathon 2019 Solo Ranking

Oman Desert Marathon 2019 Team Ranking

Photografer: Salim Alhajri