Muscat – Eighteen hours, 45 minutes and 44 seconds of steep climbs, technical trails, exhaustion and one of Turkey’s toughest mountain courses ended with Hisham Al Jabri crossing the finish line carrying the Omani flag.

The 82km journey through the Kaçkar Mountains was more than a race for the Omani ultra-runner. It marked the culmination of years of training and setbacks, and ended two previous attempts that had stopped short of the finish.

Al Jabri finished 29th overall and eighth in his age category in the Kaçkar 100km, becoming the first Omani runner to complete the race.

Held earlier this month as part of Kaçkar by UTMB 2026, the race attracted 147 runners from different countries. Despite its 100km designation, the course covered 82km and featured around 5,600m of cumulative elevation gain. Only 84 runners reached the finish line.

The race began before dawn in Ayder, taking runners through forests, valleys, mountain trails and lakes, with sections reaching around 3,200m. Steep climbs, technical terrain and altitude demanded careful pacing and a strong mental approach.

For Al Jabri, the finish was the result of several years of learning from failure.

He had competed in the Himam Trail Run races in 2023 and 2024 but failed to finish on both occasions. Instead of walking away, he used the setbacks to identify weaknesses and returned to competition in 2025, continuing to build the physical and mental preparation needed for longer races.

“Crossing the finish line was more than just the joy of completing a race,” Al Jabri said. “It was a feeling of pride and gratitude because I knew the scale of the challenge I had faced and how much work, effort and difficult experiences had gone into that moment.”

The Kaçkar course tested that preparation. Around the 48-50km mark, nausea and fatigue set in and his pace dropped.

He adjusted his nutrition and fluid intake, slowed down and focused on reaching the finish rather than maintaining his earlier pace.

“An ultra race is not a race in which you are strong all the time,” he said. “Sometimes you have moments of weakness, and the difference between reaching the finish and stopping is how you deal with that moment.”

His training had included mountain climbs, power hiking, descents and difficult terrain, alongside long periods on his feet. Nutrition and hydration were also key parts of his preparation.

“I am satisfied with the result, not only because of the position, but because of the way I dealt with the race,” he said. “The real achievement for me was facing the difficulties and not giving up.”

And throughout those hours, the Omani flag remained with him.

“When I stand at the starting line carrying the Omani flag, I feel that I am not representing myself alone,” he said. “I represent my country and try to present a positive image of the Omani runner and his ability to compete at international events.”

The flag also became a conversation starter, with competitors asking about Oman, its mountains and local races.

“Sport is not only competition; it is also a means of communication between peoples and an opportunity to introduce a country and its culture,” Al Jabri said.

“Kaçkar is not the end for me; it is a new stage,” he said. “I want to be better prepared, improve my training and nutrition and learn from every experience.”