Running 100 Miles in the Wahiba Sands
After traveling around Oman for a few days, I finally line up for the Oman Desert Marathon.
Our bus rolls into Al Wasil, a sand-dusted stone fort on the edge of the desert. A group of men dressed in formal Omani attire—long-sleeved, ankle-length dishdasha robes, muzzar turbans, and ceremonial, curved khanjar daggers around the waist—await. They greet us with smiles and a quick wave as we arrive in this small village known as the gateway to the Wahiba Sands—a desert in Oman known for its towering dunes flowing in waves of buttery yellow and coppery orange as far as the eye can see.
It’s also where the Oman Desert Marathon, a five-day, self-sufficient 165-kilometer (103-mile) stage race through this ocean of sand begins. That’s why I’m here.
Missed the first video from Oman? You can check out my first four days traveling around Muscat, hiking in Wadi Shab, and scuba diving for the first time here.
On Friday, I’ll hop on the train for a 12-hour journey to Bologna where I’ll spend the next four days fastpacking along the Via degli Dei––The Path of the Gods. As always, you can follow along at @BaurJoe.