Bidiyah, Oman: The inaugural stage of the Oman Desert Marathon concluded on Saturday with remarkable performances from elite athletes representing over 20 nations, battling the challenging desert terrain.
In the men’s 165km category, Mohammed Elmorabity (Morocco) claimed victory with an impressive average speed of 12.2 km/h, demonstrating exceptional endurance and tactical prowess. His brother Rachid Elmorabity (Morocco) secured second place at 11.0 km/h, while Saleh Alsaidi (Oman) took third place with 10.6 km/h, delighting home supporters.
The women’s 165km division saw Aziza Elamrany (Morocco) dominate the field with a strong pace of 8.3 km/h. Fellow Moroccan Aziza Raji finished second at 7.8 km/h, while Natalie Taylor (United Kingdom) claimed third place at 7.4 km/h.
Stage One covered 40 kilometers through a breathtaking desert landscape, testing runners across three distinct phases. The opening 10 kilometers featured soft, runnable sand, allowing athletes to settle into rhythm. The middle 20 kilometers introduced challenging elevation gains—not overly steep, but sufficient to engage the legs and test early-stage strategy. The final 20 kilometers delivered stunning dune climbs that were as beautiful as they were brutal, becoming true leg-killers in the day’s heat.
Temperatures soared to 32°C, testing the resolve of all participants in the 165km multi-stage ultra-marathon from countries including Morocco, Oman, France, Italy, Germany, China, Iran, Vietnam, South Korea, the United Kingdom and beyond. The event also featured single-day races (42km, 21km, 10km, 5km and 2km) that started simultaneously, with strong local participation in the shorter distances and international visitors favoring the marathon and half-marathon events.
“The conditions today were extremely challenging,” noted race organizers. “The soft sand opening, elevation through the middle section, and those final dune climbs demanded both physical strength and mental fortitude. We’re proud of every runner who completed this stage.”
Notable performances included Team TGCC’s dominant Moroccan brothers Mohammed and Rachid Elmorabity taking first and second overall, while Omani runners Saleh Alsaidi, Ghaith Al-Saeedi, and Khalid Al Farsi represented their nation strongly on home soil. The women’s race saw Moroccan expertise shine, with Aziza Elamrany and Aziza Raji claiming the top two positions, while Britain’s Natalie Taylor rounded out the podium.
As evening fell, all runners and hikers arrived safely at camp for showers, physiotherapy sessions, and podiatry services as needed. The mandatory 7:00 PM briefing provided instructions for Stage 2, including course expectations and expert advice from the physiotherapy team and race organizers on camp living and recovery strategies.
Today’s Stage 2 promises 29 km with more presence of dunes and fewer flat areas, with runners departing at 6:30 AM.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
