In 2017 three parties came together to demonstrate that a team can be better than the sum of its parts: Muscat Road Runners, Al Mouj Muscat and Oman Sail. The partnership was an outstanding success, doubling the number of runners for the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon, increasing the number of Omani participants and raising the profile of the event locally, regionally and internationally.
Following overwhelming interest last year, the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon will now be part of an extended two-day festival of running to be held on January 18 and 19, 2018. Thursday, the opening day, will be dedicated to a Kids Run for greater engagement with the next generation of runners. While Friday will see the established Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km Race complimented by two new categories: A Charity Fun Run and a Marathon Relay open to teams of four to six runners who will each run part of the full 42km course.
Building on the success of a record field in 2017, the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon will again benefit from the successful partnership of Oman Sail and Muscat Road Runners, the continued support of title sponsor Al Mouj Muscat, the waterfront lifestyle destination, and has received a boost from Tanfeedh, the Omani government’s economic diversification project, which has embraced the fast-growing global sports tourism sector as one of its key initiatives.
Speaking at a press conference held to announce the seventh edition of the Marathon, Ahmed Al Malki, Chairman of Muscat Road Runners, said, “Our partnership with Oman Sail, and the title sponsorship of Al Mouj Muscat, has enabled the event to reach new heights. The exciting new aspects of the race will offer new opportunities for Omani runners, local residents and international competitors of various ages and skill levels to compete and provide a new way to discover our beautiful country.
“In 2017, the marathon took place on one day and saw participants more than double from the 2016 race, from 600 to 1,290. Of this, the number of Omani runners increased from 51 in 2016 to 246 earlier this year. This phenomenal increase shows the appetite of the Omani people to try new activities, dedicate themselves to training and push themselves to excel.”
In the new running categories, the Marathon Relay is primarily aimed at corporate teams but is open to everybody. The Kids Run will feature three courses: 1km for children born in 2010 and 2011; 2.5km for those born in 2008 and 2009; and 4km for those born 2006 and 2007.
For the 5km Charity Fun Run, an official charity organisation will be identified and announced to allow competitors to run for a cause.
The 2018 Al Mouj Muscat Marathon routes are currently being finalised. To register for it, please visit muscatmarathon.om.
