Hamed al Harthy, Oman’s veteran ultra-trail runner is unstoppable… All through each year, he is either physically or mentally involved in some trail or the other around the world. Back from one race in China, he is already getting set for another in India, in September, and is indeed, elated about his prospects

At the ripe age of 66, for Hamed al Harthy – Oman’s lone veteran ultra-trail runner – who has participated in almost all the prestigious ultramarathons and ultra-trail runs in some of the most treacherous terrains around the world, the ‘show’ has just begun!

Never exhausted on taking on daunting challenges, where youngsters would think twice before signing up, Hamed has always participated in ultra-trails where the difficulty levels are high. ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going’ – this phrase most aptly describes his demeanour, and he admits that without an iota of pride – rather he takes pride in the fact that his health has remained concurrent with his spirit all through.

Recently back from ChongLi 168 – one of Asia’s most iconic ultra-trail running events in the scenic mountain range of Zhangjiakou, the venue of the 2022 Winter Olympics, held between July 11-13, Hamed has not set himself time to unwind. Rather, he is already making plans and preparations for a bigger challenge – the 122km Silk Route Ultra in Ladakh (India) on September 11.

The ancient ‘Silk Route’ across the Karakoram pass connected North West India with Central Asia from Yarkhand, Kashgar and Turkestan. This route was strategically important and one of the longest trade routes in ancient times, not only for exchange of commodities but also for cultural exchanges. As this famous Silk route passed through the Nubra Valley (Ldumra – the valley of flowers), this race has been aptly name the Silk Route Ultra.

This ultra-race is for all those who have been running the Khardungla Challenge for several years and for those ultra-runners and Ironman athletes who always want to test their endurance further. In fact, Hamed’s participation in ChongLi was in preparation for Ladakh.

In an exclusive chat with Muscat Daily, Hamed shares his passion. Excerpts:

Which was the last race you participated in this month?       

I participated in the168 Ultra Trail ChongLi in the second week of July. As I understood, there were 4000 athletes doing ultras and 6000 doing smaller races.

Were you the oldest runner?

Not really.  This race is open to runners between 24 to 79 years of age, I am told.

How would you rate the difficulty quotient of this race?

It was difficult considering the Sun and running in open areas. So one would need to carry an additional litre of water with electrolytes. Very few sections offered shade from trees, the rest had just tall grass. Also, the first 19km was difficult to negotiate as the trail was very narrow. The burden, however, was reduced as aid stations were manned with professional volunteers. Things were quite easy, I’d say.

How did you tackle this race?

As usual, I study the trail, aid stations, elevations, downhill sections, etc in detail by accessing whatever information I can. I set up a strategy and a plan, and stick to it almost 80 per cent.

What preparation did you do and did you have any sponsors?

I have been preparing for this race since the beginning of this year, and in April, I went to Turkey for a 122km race. I do my long runs in Jabal Akhdar to avoid the summer heat in Muscat.

As for sponsors, I had Sohar International as the sponsor for the ChongLi Race – they will continue their support for the upcoming 122km race in Ladakh region of India which is the highest ultra-marathon in the world.

What was the expected duration of the race and what timing did you clock?

The expected duration was 28 hours – I completed the race in 26 hours. During the night, however, in one of the aid stations, I took the 50km exit by mistake, instead of the 100km exit. I was misguided by one of the volunteers but I do not blame him – we both learnt a lesson from this.

An organiser detected  through GPS that I had got lost but couldn’t reach me on time. At the next aid station, I was told to wait for 20 minutes and redirected on the correct route. They gave me the option to quit the race, if I wished to. But for me, quitting is never an option. I decided to continue, though this deviation cost me more than three hours. Otherwise, I could have completed the race within 20-22 hours.

What’s next? Are you preparing for any other race this year?

Yes. My next goal is the utramarathon in Ladakh which is around 46 days away in September. I have already resumed training – outdoors as well as in a gym. For long runs, I head to Jabal Akhdar.

Do you think corporates must back ambitious individuals who seek to set new records?

100% yes. The country has a lot of potential and young athletes need an opportunity to participate in international races. However, many can’t afford the cost involved. 

Do you foresee yourself as a coach for ultramarathons and international trails in the future?

I have many pressing priorities as of now. I am a board member of Himam Trail runs in Oman. I help in working out the strategy of trail running in Oman. The good news is, Oman is catching up very fast. We are already on the world trail map and communities involved.