Muscat, More than 420 trail runners will take their place on the start line at Birkat Al Mouz for an endurance test as the second Himam Trail Run Race gets underway this (Friday) 3 December 2021.

Runners from 35 countries have registered for the event, including over 40 female participants, significantly surpassing the previous inaugural edition.

The expanded field of runners will begin at 6.15am, with the first athletes taking part in the 20-km race due to finish after four hours. Runners completing the 35-km course have eight hours to finish and those taking part in the 70-km race must finish within 18 hours.

Local favourites Hamdan Al Khatri, Sami Al Saidi, Saleh Al Saidi, Adil Al Subaihi and AbdelNasser Al Riyami, will join notable international ultra-trail marathon runners including eight-time winner of the Marathon des Sables, Rachid El Murabity of Morocco, and three-time Oman Desert Marathon medalist Evgenii Glyva from the Ukraine on the 70-km course.

Each race has been meticulously-designed to include traditional walkways and a variety of terrains to challenge even the most experienced of runners. All three courses feature steep climbs from 350m to 2210m through the village of Al Muaydin and nearby date plantations before turning for home and concluding with a gentle descent to the finishing line.

The 70-km race this year is recognised by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and carries three points for each finisher which helps towards ranking positions and entry into the world’s toughest ultra-trail marathon races.

The Himam Trail Run Race is organised by Himam Adventure, under the umbrella of Al Sahwa Team, Nizwa Club. The race is supported by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) in A’Dakhiliyah.

Source: Oman News Agency