The first and only 100km single stage trail run in the region with 2,600m of elevation
The Hajar Mountains slowly took shape as runners lined up and blitzed their way in this year’s Urban Ultra Hajar 100. Starting off to face the morning sun, the contenders bolted out on the flat 7.5km to the first checkpoint following the starter horn, others taking their time, presumably to warm up their legs and take in the beautiful, Ras Al Khaimah morning.
Checkpoint 1 was stationed at the base of the first climb leading up the winding road to summit Janas Mountain. Runners looked up in awe as they realised this was their very first ascent. The summit of this mountain is spectacular, breathtaking even. The air so clear, runners are seemingly up in the clouds looking down over the city and out to sea. This gnarly trail continued across the mountain, up and down, over and through the slices of rock, sometimes narrowing and the edge feeling a little too close for comfort. It soon gave way to a more established gravel road and then Checkpoint 2 where fruit, Aqualyte and water waited for parched runners.
The 13km road down Janas led runners to the next entrance of the wadi bed for a quick 2km where Checkpoint 3 sat waiting at the start of the next climb – up Jebel Yibir. Runners slowly appeared at the base of Janas Mountain only to groan at the speed at which the second climb had seemed to come along. Pushing too hard here would almost certainly have a serious impact on a runner’s ability to go the distance and a careful management of energy stores was the key to getting over the finish line.
It seemed the leading group of runners Sami Alsaidi, Chad Lasater and Lee Harris were keeping the pace high and only time would tell who would crumble first. This group was closely followed by Clare Mullenger for the women and Julia Ibbini a little way behind her.
The climb up Jebel Yibir is by far the toughest. A seemingly never-ending road, so steep you can stretch out your muscles by just turning arond and pointing your feet downhill. Calves worked out to the max, lungs screaming in protest. Then just when you think you have reached the top at a small village, you drop down into the ravine, and turn up into a boulder strewn gorge. No easy way through, runners must clamber up and over. Energy stores are now being depleted double time.
A small village on a plateau signalled at least the end of the climb, but a single-track ridge stood between runners and the refreshments waiting at Checkpoint 4. Then it was a short gravel road that led to the smooth tarmac and a good 8km of steep, switchback road leading down into the valley below and the welcome sight of Checkpoint 5 at 52km.
Checkpoint 5 was a hive of activity: hot soup and noodles on the go, chocolate, fruit, peanut butter and jam, tea, coffee; all the things a runner could need after such an effort to get there. Runners left Checkpoint 5 to embark on another thankfully short, but super steep winding descent into the valley below and then into the wadi bed to follow the pink markers all the way to Checkpoint 6. At Checkpoint 7, the runners went through some lovely landscape, eventually reaching some very flat sections to take them through an agricultural and poultry farm area of Wadi Kub and to the final Checkpoint 8.
With only 8.5km to go to the finish, it was unclear if it was Chad or Sami – having switched several times from the lead to second place and back again throughout the day, was going to be first over the last rise into the valley of Al Ghail then through a short section of farm and sand.
Draped in the Oman flag, the young 22-year-old turned into the finish still looking light footed and fresh to take 1st place in the men’s category. Coming across the line he proclaimed it was harder than he expected as he entered thinking it was 100km of sand dunes! All we can say is it seems he can turn his feet to any terrain, completing the Urban- Ultra Hajar 100 in 11hrs and 37mins. Following 12 minutes later was Chad Lasater and then behind him, Lee Harris. Clare Mullanger appeared soon after taking the women’s champion trophy and an astonishing 4th place overall. Solid evidence that women are proving to be serious contenders for the top spots in endurance running, and not just in the women’s category!
As dusk finally gave way to the star-strewn sky, the appearance of runners slowed significantly, crossing the line in various states of exhaustion as the night wore on. The glow of the fire lit the spaced-out faces of finishers coming in the early hours, thrilled with their performance, but just too exhausted to celebrate it. At 22hrs and 50mins, the last runner Hishashi from Japan was cheered in, his bloodstained Vibrams which he’d chosen to run the last 48km in – a testament to his will and mental strength after such a long distance and time. From the incredible 11hrs and 37mins that Sami ran to the 22hrs and 50mins of Hishashi, both are impressive for very different reasons and no less remarkable.
And to close this season, we all deserve a rest and a good massage.
