The Himam Trail Run Race 2025 concluded its main competitive events on Friday, 12 December, following two days of racing across the diverse landscapes of the Al Hajar Mountains. With more than 4,500 runners representing 68 countries, the event reaffirmed its status as one of Oman’s most prominent mountain sports gatherings. This year’s edition was marked by strong competition across all distances, reflecting both the expanding international appeal of the race and the high level of technical and organisational readiness achieved by the organising team, supported by medical, volunteer, and security units deployed across the routes.
In the flagship Al Hajar ULTRA 120KM, Spanish runner Maite Mayora secured first place in the women’s division with a time of 19:02:45, followed by China’s Wenfei Xie in 20:12:57 and Russia’s Tatiana Fedoseeva in 20:13:23. The men’s race saw Morocco’s Ahmed Ayyoup take the title in 14:44:01, with France’s Victor Guerdin finishing second in 15:08:32 and Oman’s Saleh Al Saidi placing third in 17:11:43. The demanding route began in Al Hamra and crossed the eastern Hajar range and the high terrain of Jabal Akhdar before descending into Birkat Al Mouz, combining steep elevation gains with long technical sections and exposed rocky corridors.
In the Skyward Canyon 60KM, held along canyon paths and climbs from Izki, France’s Clara Magnin won the women’s category in 08:20:24, followed by Claire Stone of the United Kingdom and Jordanka Petrushevska of North Macedonia. Omani runner Amjad Aljamoudi led the men’s division with a time of 05:46:16, ahead of Russia’s Navil Shaimukhametov and Australia’s Vlad Ixel, who placed second and third respectively. In the Old Capital Trail 35KM, which began in the historic market district of Nizwa, Iran’s Zahra Ashoori claimed the women’s title in 04:54:49, followed by France’s Aurelie Braux and the South Africa’s Leila Knight. Morocco’s Abdelaziz Ahnida won the men’s category in 03:09:19, while Omani athletes Youssef Alsibihi and Youssef Alnaabi finished second and third.
The Scenic Sprint 20KM concluded with a strong field, where the United States’ Lilly Willis took first place in the women’s category in 02:10:32, followed by France’s Fe Valvekens and India’s Divya Reddy. In the men’s division, Oman’s Salim Al Falahi secured victory in 01:51:48, ahead of France’s Hector Chan and Oman’s Alazher Al Hattali. Across all distances, participants navigated routes that highlighted the geological contrasts and cultural landscapes of the Hajar range, from wadis and terraced farms to ridge-line crossings and traditional village pathways.
The closing ceremony took place under the patronage of H.E. Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, who honored the winners of all race categories and recognized partners, supporters, and volunteers whose contributions were essential to the successful delivery of the event. The 2025 edition was supported by the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, alongside extensive operational support from the Sultan’s Armed Forces, the Royal Air Force of Oman, the Royal Oman Police, and the Ministry of Health. Additional contributions came from the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, the Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society, the Oman Scouts and Guides, and the University of Nizwa. Corporate partners included OXY Oman, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Oman LNG, and Sohar Aluminium.
The organizing committee affirmed that the Himam Trail Run Race continues to strengthen its position as a leading mountain running event in the region, highlighting Oman’s natural and cultural landscapes and contributing to the country’s growing presence in adventure sport tourism. This year’s wide international participation underscored the event’s expanding global profile and comes as the organizing team prepares to deliver Oman by UTMB® in 2026, following Himam’s appointment as the official organizer of next year’s international UTMB®-series race.
The race program will continue next weekend with a dedicated community and family event featuring children’s races and short-distance runs designed to encourage wider participation in sport. These activities aim to promote healthier lifestyles, introduce younger runners to the spirit of trail running, and strengthen community engagement around outdoor activity. The organizers noted that the family weekend has become an integral part of the Himam calendar, reflecting the event’s commitment not only to elite competition but also to fostering a culture of wellbeing, inclusion, and active living across all age groups.
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