Sharqiya South, Oman – Moroccan athletes delivered commanding performances across both men’s and women’s divisions in the second stage of the Oman Desert Marathon on Sunday
Brothers Mohammed and Rachid Elmorabity executed a flawless tactical race in the men’s division, while Aziza sisters Elamrany and Raji replicated the achievement in the women’s competition.
Oman’s Saleh Al Saidi secured third place in the men’s race, benefiting from local knowledge and support, while Great Britain’s Natalie Taylor claimed the final women’s podium position with a determined performance throughout the demanding course.
Stage 2 presented runners with two distinct challenges. The route commenced with a spectacular section through towering sand dunes, requiring technical climbing skills and precise navigation. The undulating terrain, while visually stunning, demanded constant adaptation and careful energy management.
The latter portion transformed into long, straight sand roads. While appearing less technically demanding, these sections presented a significant psychological challenge. The unchanging landscape and visible but seemingly unreachable finish line tested mental resilience as much as physical endurance.
“The dunes were brutal on the body, but those straight roads were brutal on the mind,” observed Cindy Haase (Germany). “It’s a different kind of exhaustion.”
Temperature conditions added another layer of difficulty, with early morning cool giving way to intense midday heat that felt significantly elevated on the exposed sand roads, where shade was non-existent. The combination of direct sun and heat radiating from the sand surface created particularly challenging conditions during the middle hours of the stage.
