The sun barely crested the horizon when forty multi-stage runners from across the globe toed the starting line this morning, their shadows stretching long across the desert floor. Alongside them, hundreds more prepared for single-day challenges—marathoners, half-marathoners, and local participants ready for 10km and 5km tests. Stage 1 of the Oman Desert Marathon has concluded, and what a beginning it was.
The Champions Emerge
Today’s victory in the men’s 165km belonged to Mohammed Elmorabity from Morocco, who powered through 40 kilometers of unforgiving terrain at an impressive 12.2 km/h pace. His tactical approach to the final dune section—those beautiful but brutal climbs after checkpoint 3—proved decisive. Not far behind, his brother Rachid Elmorabitymaintained a strong 11.0 km/h to secure second place, making it a Team TGCC double podium. Home favorite Saleh Alsaidi from Oman delighted local supporters with a third-place finish at 10.6 km/h.
On the women’s side, Aziza Elamrany (Morocco) demonstrated why she’s considered one of the favorites, claiming the stage win with a commanding pace of 8.3 km/h. Her steady rhythm through the notorious elevation section set her apart from the field. Fellow Moroccan Aziza Raji showed her desert credentials with second place at 7.8 km/h, while Natalie Taylor from the United Kingdom proved her mettle with third place at 7.4 km/h.
The Desert’s First Test
Today’s 40-kilometer course was a masterclass in desert diversity. The opening 10 kilometers offered soft, runnable sand—not easy, but manageable enough to let runners find their rhythm and get into the mood for what lay ahead.
Then came the middle 20 kilometers, where the elevation began to bite. Not viciously steep climbs, but persistent enough that every runner felt it in their legs. This section separated those who paced wisely from those who burned too bright too early.
But the real drama waited at checkpoint 3. From there, the course transformed into a 10 km stunning gallery of dunes—absolutely beautiful to behold, absolutely devastating to climb. These weren’t just hills; they were leg-killers that extracted a price from every competitor. The soft sand grabbed at feet, the inclines tested quad muscles already fatigued from 30 kilometers, and the heat—oh, the heat climbed to 32°C by midday—made every step feel like two.
Stories from the Trail
The international flavor of this event was on full display. The Moroccan contingent came to compete, and they delivered.
The Omani runners, racing on home soil, carried the weight of national pride—and the energy of local spectators at every checkpoint. Saleh Alsaidi’s third-place finish electrified supporters, while Ghaith Al-Saeedi, Khalid Al Farsi, and the Army Team A contingent (Khalid Said ALJABRI and Moosa Salim AL SUBIHI) represented their nation with distinction.
From Asia, we saw determined performances from South Korea’s Jaehyun Park and Vietnam’s Tran Tuyet Mai, each tackling the grueling 165km challenge with determination.
European runners brought their own grit—Britain’s Natalie Taylor claiming a podium spot, with compatriots Gary Howells, Claire Fielding (team medic to medic), and Robert Clack all showing strong form. The French contingent including Team 108’s Dominique and Vanessa Humphrey-Reverdy, Germans Cindy Haase and Simone Peterhans, and runners from Italy, Ireland, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands added international depth to the field.
Russian Alexey Baboshin and Iranian brothers Mazyar and Pedram Nemati from Saman Club worked through their own challenges, while the single-day races saw massive local participation, particularly in the 5km and 10km events, with international visitors favoring the marathon and half-marathon distances.
Evening in Camp
As the sun set over the Bidiyah desert, all runners and hikers made it safely to camp. The scene was familiar to anyone who’s done multi-stage racing: athletes queuing for showers, hobbling to physiotherapy tents, some requiring podiatry attention for hot spots that could become tomorrow’s nightmares if left untended.
At 7 PM came the mandatory briefing—part pep talk, part tactical session, part survival guide. Race organizers outlined Stage 2’s challenges, the physiotherapy team offered recovery advice (ice, elevation, compression—the holy trinity), and veterans shared tips about camp living in the desert heat.
Looking Ahead
As darkness falls on Stage 1, runners are in their tents now, feet elevated, bodies recovering as best they can. The gaps are small—just seconds separate several competitors. The competition is fierce, and the desert has only begun to reveal its secrets.
Tomorrow brings Stage 2, 29 km of dunes. The Moroccan dominance is established but not insurmountable. The Omani runners know this terrain better than anyone. The international field is full of experience and determination.
Four stages remain. The story is just beginning.
Stay tuned for Stage 2 coverage tomorrow.
For results check here: https://my.raceresult.com/378212/results
