Running is often seen as a personal pursuit, with people taking to the road to improve their fitness, chase personal goals or compete in organised races. In Oman, however, the sport is taking on a different meaning as its popularity grows. What was once largely an individual activity is increasingly becoming a shared experience, with runners seeking not only physical fitness but also motivation, friendship and a sense of belonging.
Running in Oman is no longer confined to annual races or one-off events. In Muscat, running communities are turning weekly runs into regular gatherings that bring together fitness and friendship. As more people look for motivation beyond running alone, these groups provide a space where beginners and experienced runners can train together, encourage one another and form lasting connections.
Among them is Hyenas Running Club, a group helping make community running an increasingly visible part of Muscat’s fitness culture.
The club’s community-centred approach was present from the beginning. Founder Hussam al Azri started running at the age of 13, when his father would take him on daily jogs after school. He was reluctant at first, but over the years, running became a habit that would eventually grow into a passion.
Al Azri wanted to create a space where runners could improve together. On July 19, 2025, Hyenas held its first run. Just six people turned up, starting late and with little idea of what the club would eventually become.
The name itself reflects the philosophy behind it.
“Hyenas are always in packs. They don’t leave anyone behind,” al Azri explained.
That principle has since helped the club gain recognition through race organisers and partnerships, but its core remains unchanged. Every Saturday, around 15 runners gather at PACA al Mawaleh, with the emphasis not simply on how fast they run, but on making sure everyone reaches the finish.
For many members, that sense of community is what makes Hyenas different.
Saad al Zawawi, a beginner who discovered the club through friends, said the welcoming atmosphere encouraged him to join despite feeling nervous about running alongside more experienced runners.
“Before joining, I mostly viewed running as an individual activity,” he said. “Now, I see it as something social and motivating.”
He recalled one particularly difficult run when members continued cheering one another on until everyone had finished.
“It wasn’t about who finished first,” he said. “It was about finishing together.”
For al Zawawi and many others, the club has consequently become more than a place to exercise.
“You come for the running, but you stay because of the people.”
In a sport often measured by personal bests, race times and kilometres covered, Hyenas Running Club offers a different definition of progress. It can be seen in the runner who refuses to give up, the beginner who gradually becomes comfortable within the group, and the friendships that continue long after the run has ended.
What began as al Azri’s vision of creating a space where runners could grow together has evolved into something larger: a community where encouragement is valued alongside endurance.
As community running continues to gain momentum in Oman, Hyenas offers a reminder that some of the most meaningful distances are not measured in kilometres, but in the connections built along the way.
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