odm | IAN CORLESS

These Omani nights are cold. Dare I say that last night was colder than the night before? It’s tough for the runner’s, especially those that are minimum with kit, particularly lightweight sleeping bag and no down jacket.

Stage 3 at 40km is the second longest of the week and arguably the toughest, compensated for with incredible beauty.

The Oman Desert Marathon is very much a sand race. Every step is on varying decrees of soft-sand and stage 3 adds the spice of a rollercoaster of dunes. There is even a dune section to the finish line.

Starting just after sunrise, the early morning light and views in the first and second dune sections were spectacular. Up high, you really get to see the enormity and expanse of the sand here in Oman, it is relentless.

Early km’s of the day saw many wearing a windbreaker, trying to get warm after a cold night and chilly start. The heat soon came though and it would keep rising to a high of 27-degrees.

Rachid feeling the chill – Photo by Ian Corless

The top male contenders ran much of the day together, nobody seemed particularly eager to push the pace. Rachid took it very easy wearing a windbreaker and gloves for the whole day, he was a long way back early on and then little by little he moved up the field as the race progressed.

Mohamed playing a waiting game – Photo by Ian Corless

Mohamed and Saleh are inform and the duo finished first and second on the stage just 11-seconds apart, 4:14:39 and 4:14:50 respectively. Rachid moved up to third by the finish line crossing nearly 10-minutes behind his brother.

For the women, Aziza finished 11th overall in 5:52:44 and a long way ahead of Lydia Oldham in second, 6:30:49. Sally ford was third nearly 50-minutes behind second.

Stage 3 results HERE

Full results HERE

Tomorrow is the penultimate stage of 30km. With three starts, 1500hrs, 1600hrs and 1700hrs, the participants will go into the night and finish in darkness.

Oman Desert Marathon website HERE

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The 2025 Oman Desert Marathon got underway today in Bidiyah, Oman with music, dancing and a lively atmosphere. Stage 1 of the 165km race also includes all the one day races of 2km, 5km, 10km, 21km and 42km taking part on the same track. It was most certainly a lively start!

Starting from the Oasis of Alwasil and finishing at Al Jawharat Resort in Bidiyah. The 2025 Oman Desert Marathon is a five stages of 42 km, 32 km, 40 km, 30 km and 21 km.

Five stages to experience the different perspectives of one of the most beautiful deserts of the world.

A unique journey to discover the most remote, untouched sands and the highest dunes of the Omani Desert while on the tracks of the ancient caravans.

Stage 1 at 42km’s was a tough first day. One thing is notable here in Oman is that the desert is pretty much ALL soft-sand which makes for very tough and tiring days.

The weather at this time of year is considered ‘mild’ by Omani standards,, however, the 25-deg highs surely took a toll on the runner’s during the stage.

The main protagonists of the day were Rachid and Mohamed El Morabity and Aziza Raji.

Aziza took the lead from the start and slowly but surely opened up a gap that just kept getting bigger as the day went on. Sally Ford and Lydia Oldham chased but were almost 45-minutes behind.

For Rachid and Mohamed, they played a waiting and watching game for the first 30km’s and then opened up the throttle to pull away. The main challenge, once again came from Ghaith Al Saidi and Saleh Al Saidi, brothers against brothers.

For Aziz, Rachid and Mohamed, there results were even more impressive as the trio only had approximately 3-hours sleep the night before after long travel and a 0300 arrival at the race hotel. I am sure they will sleep well tonight!