(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- The sixth edition of the challenging 165km Oman Desert Marathon will take place in the Sharqiyah region from November 17-22. A diverse group of 107 runners from 23 countries will cover the 165km distance covering 25km, 20km, 28km, 27km, 42km and 23km respectively over six stages. The longest fifth stage comprises a night marathon with ascents and descents of around 1,500m.
The third stage on November 19 is anticipated to be a make-or-break moment for runners. Coming at the event's half-way point after two days of challenging conditions it will test their preparation and self-sufficiency as it includes seven climbs and a long soft sand section. The race requires all runners to be entirely self-sufficient and carry all their equipment, though water is supplied at checkpoints every 10km along the demanding course.
Race organiser Said al Hajri, said, 'Runners taking part in the previous five marathons had the chance to experience the unspoilt beauty of the Omani desert as well as the warmth of our legendary hospitality.'
This year's event will see 35 local participants including Sami al Saidi who came second last year and Moosa al Balushi who finished fourth.
Other participants taking part include Morocco's Rachid al Murabity who is considered number one in the world; Mohammed al Murabity, one of the top ten runners in Morocco; Evgenii Galiva, a 200km non-stop race champion from Ukraine and Aziza al Raji, one of the world's top-ten female runners from Morocco.
The rest of the runners are from countries such as Italy, France, the UK, Germany, Switzerland and Australia. Runners will cover a varied landscape of sand dunes and through palm groves and villages to the finish on the shore of the Arabian Sea.
In addition to support from the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Sports Affairs, the race has gained the backing of Tanfeedh, the government's economic diversification initiative which has identified the fast-growing global sports tourism sector as a key focus for the country.'We have worked with local communities and our international partners. With the support of local and national organisations all is now in place to present the magic of the desert and its dunes to a new group of adventurous runners,' Hajri added.
MENAFN1511201801410000ID1097702062
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.