Oman by UTMB®
Oman by UTMB® – SCENIC ASCENT
Birkat Almouz
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The Scenic Ascent is the 22 km distance at Oman by UTMB, a loop that starts and finishes in Birkat Almouz. With 515 m of climbing and a high point of 1,016 m over its 22 kilometres, it is the most approachable of the mountain formats here, offering the flavour of Omani trail running in a distance that stays manageable for newer ultra and long-trail runners. What defines this route is its gentle overall profile combined with a genuine hill feel. From Birkat Almouz at 574 m the course works its way up to a high point above 1,000 m, passing a village viewpoint before looping back to the start, so runners get real elevation and scenery without the punishing vertical of the longer Oman by UTMB races.
The Course: A Loop from Birkat Almouz
The Scenic Ascent covers 22 km as a loop out of Birkat Almouz, starting and finishing at the same point at 574-575 m. The route rolls out to Tawi Sada at 7.7 km (613 m), continues up to a Village Viewpoint at 13.7 km (700 m), and then returns to Birkat Almouz to close the loop at 21.5 km. Total climbing is a moderate 515 m with a high point of 1,016 m. With only two intermediate checkpoints across the 22 km, the course is straightforward to follow but asks you to be reasonably self-sufficient between aid. The early leg to Tawi Sada is gently rising, the middle section lifts you to the Village Viewpoint at 700 m, and the closing kilometres bring you back down into Birkat Almouz, which doubles as the finish and crew point.
Where the Effort Adds Up
This is not a course with one giant climb; instead the 515 m of gain accumulates gradually as you move from Birkat Almouz at 574 m out to Tawi Sada at 613 m and on up to the Village Viewpoint at 700 m by 13.7 km. The high point of 1,016 m means the route rises above the checkpoint altitudes at some stage, so expect the terrain between named points to undulate rather than climb in a single clean ramp. The decisive part of the day is simply staying strong on the long middle section between Tawi Sada and the Village Viewpoint, then running the return leg well. Because the finish sits back down at 575 m, the final kilometres from the viewpoint tilt gently downhill, giving stronger runners a chance to press the pace on the way home into Birkat Almouz.
Pacing and Fuelling
There is a single hard time gate: the finish at Birkat Almouz, 21.5 km, closes at Sat 13:00. With a Saturday finish cut-off early in the afternoon, this is a race you want to start briskly enough to build margin while the day is still relatively cool, then hold form to the line. The moderate 515 m of climb means most runners can move steadily throughout rather than resorting to long walking blocks. Aid is limited to the checkpoints at Tawi Sada and the Village Viewpoint, so carry enough fluid and a couple of gels or bars to bridge the gaps, particularly on the rising middle section. Because Birkat Almouz serves as both start and finish and is flagged as a crew point, you can plan your kit and hydration around that hub, setting out with what you need for the loop and knowing your crew is waiting at the end.
Conditions to Expect
The Scenic Ascent stays between roughly 574 m and 1,016 m, so while it climbs into Omani mountain scenery it never reaches the high, exposed elevations of the longer races on this weekend. Expect warm, dry conditions typical of the region, with a Saturday-afternoon cut-off meaning you are running through the heat of the day on largely open trail. Sun and limited shade are the main environmental challenges here rather than altitude. Plan your hydration around the two checkpoints, protect yourself from the sun on the exposed climb to the Village Viewpoint, and pay attention to footing on the village paths and trails around Tawi Sada and Birkat Almouz. Handled sensibly, this is the most forgiving way to experience the terrain of Oman by UTMB.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 574 m · —
7.7 km · 613 m · —
13.7 km · 700 m · —
21.5 km · 575 m · Sat 13:00
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