Every year, I make sure that I’ll sign up a race to challenge myself. Whether this is a new race or an attempt to get a new PB, I’m always up for exciting things.
This year, that race for me was the 70km Himam Trail Run Race at Birkat Al Mouz, Oman. It follows a similar trail of the OMAN by UTMB of 2019.
This kind of race is recognised by the International Trial Running Association (ITRA) and carries three points for each finish, which helps towards ranking positions and entry into the world’s toughest ultra-trail marathon races such as UTMB (Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc).
With the support of my hiker / mountaineer friends “Team Harkor” and “Filipino Trail Runners UAE”, this ambitious distance seemed feasible from a perspective of a Triathlete.
This kind of race is recognised by the International Trial Running Association (ITRA) and carries three points for each finish, which helps towards ranking positions and entry into the world’s toughest ultra-trail marathon races such as UTMB (Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc).
With the support of my hiker / mountaineer friends “Team Harkor” and “Filipino Trail Runners UAE”, this ambitious distance seemed feasible from a perspective of a Triathlete.
The beginning of the course took us through the old town and date plantations for about four kilometers, before following a wide, dry wadi. The traditional walkways and variety of terrains challenged even the most experienced runners.
As the distance increases, the path leaded us to large boulders where we have to carefully climb and balance our steps as some area of the Wadi have water flowing to it.
I felt scared as some stones are slippery; one false move and I’ll end up somewhere else. So, as I find and connect each green dots to direct me on the other path, I was in awe of the nature’s beauty of Oman.
The view was just overwhelming as a first timer on trail running race as this is beyond the normal training ground I used to go.
From there, everything seems all goes up. I’m now catching my breath as elevation is increasing. I did few stops and some stretches to get me back on momentum.
I departed aid stations with a smile and regained strength to pass through the technical ascents and descents. Though it was tough and brutal, the atmospheric old villages overlooking the edges of each slope were a scenic distraction. Butterflies, nature and chirping birds distracted me on what felt like the longest kilometres of my life.
Along the way, there were locals who offered dates and water, which was a great support too – Oman is a land where you find hospitality in abundance
As I followed the green markers, I felt like I was losing track. I had to go back and retrace some of my steps, adding almost 2kms. It was a good thing the marshal saw me and redirected me!
Towards the halfway turning point, I saw one of my teammates and we raced together, passing canals and old villages on the mountain then heading across relatively flat ground.
Reaching the midpoint, 35km at 1,977.8 m elevation, a band was given to each runner and before leaving the safe haven of the aid station, I requested a muscle relief spray and received a massage from my ankle to legs from a volunteer, she was an angel!
I loved the scenery, but appreciating the experience was harder than I expected. I felt sore and tired. Yet my mental state – to finish within the cut off time – kept me moving.
At some point the teammate that I’m with got a knee injury that slowed him down and I felt fatigue. We paced each other instead and lend him my other pole.
Evening came and fear creeps in.
What will I do if I see ghosts or encounter wild animals; those were the thoughts playing in my mind. I got to the point where I had to ask myself who I was doing this race for and realized that it was no longer for myself but for people who believe in me and who were waiting for me at the finish line.
At around 60km, I tripped on my right ankle as I went down from the Wadi. I felt scared it might be a reason to drop out; but thankfully I found the strength to bear the pain and drew motivation from people along the way to until I crossed the finish line.
Having said that, I finished the race at 16:21:40 hours and promptly burst into tears!
It was an overwhelming feeling, a strong sense of accomplishment – and another personal victory for myself.
