AL JABAL AL AKHDHAR: The third edition of the “Run & Explore” trail race concluded on Friday evening in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, with the participation of 450 runners from 24 different nationalities, alongside 160 children competing in the junior race category. The total number of participants reached 610 athletes from inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman, in a vibrant sporting scene that reflects the growing popularity of endurance and adventure sports in the country.
The event featured three main adult races over distances of 30 km, 20 km, and 10 km, in addition to a 4 km race for children.
In the men’s 30 km race, Amjad al Jamoudi from Oman secured first place with a time of 2:53:57, followed by Saleh al Saeedi in second place with 3:05:36, while Moosa al Subaihi claimed third place with 3:05:57. In the women’s category for the same distance, Amale Omari from France won first place with a time of 4:42:12, followed by Rahila Abdulameer from Iran in second place with 4:53:11, and Liang Hao from China in third place.
In the men’s 20 km race, Omani runner Ghaith al Saeedi took first place with a time of 1:40:41, followed closely by Nader Abdullah in second place, just eight seconds behind, while Aws al Shabibi came third with 1:46:18. In the women’s category, Somali runner Maryam Juma claimed first place with a time of 3:09:59, while Omani runner Suad al Nasibi finished in second place, just 1 minute and 21 seconds behind the leader. Paula Hellmann from Brazil secured third place with a time of 3:19:22.
In the men’s 10 km race, Yousif al Naabi won first place with a time of 51:49, followed by Ahmed al Fahdi in second place with 52:15, and Yousif al Subhi in third place with 53:41. In the women’s category, Ghina al Habbal from Lebanon won first place with 1:17:22, followed by Zahra Ghasemi from Iran in second place with 1:22:33, and Anastasia Nazarova from Russia in third place with 1:24:17
In the children’s 4 km race, Ohood al Hinai from Oman claimed first place in the girls’ category with a time of 17:24, followed by Maryam al Riyami in second place with 22:57, and Jinan al Toobi in third place with 24:23. In the boys’ category, Musab al Owaimri secured first place with 14:51, followed by Imad al Hinai in second place with 15:08, and Mohammed al Fahdi in third place.
This race is considered an important milestone in Oman’s trail running calendar and serves as an ideal preparation platform for runners ahead of the Himam Trail Run Race scheduled for December 2025 — one of the most prominent trail running events in the region.
The event also contributed significantly to boosting tourism in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, attracting visitors from both inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman, highlighting the Wilayat’s natural and cultural assets, and reinforcing its position as a prime destination for sports tourism and outdoor adventure. Moreover, the event helped raise awareness of the importance of outdoor physical activity and its role in promoting a healthy lifestyle, while also providing children with opportunities to engage in motivating and competitive environments.
The winners’ ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Said bin Harib al Lamki, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs, who crowned the champions and presented awards. He praised the high level of organisation and the growing participation in such events, which reflect Oman’s vision of promoting community sports and positioning them as a driver of tourism and economic development.
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