AlUla Trail Race brings together sport, heritage, and nature for more than 1,000 athletes in the most stunning of settings
The event is divided into six categories – 100 km ultramarathon, 50 km marathon, 20 km half marathon, 10 km fun run and 1.4 km children’s run – on February 23rd and 24th.
ALULA, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA – AlUla Trail Racean invigorating chase through beautiful landscapes, passing the most famous landmarks of stunning AlUla, returns this year to bring sport, heritage and nature together for more than 1,000 athletes.
Divided into six categories – a 100 km ultramarathon, a 50 km marathon, a 20 km half marathon, a 10 km fun run and a 1.4 km children’s run – the AlUla Trail Race takes place on Thursday 23 February and Friday 24 March February instead.
Designated hiking trails allow participants to enjoy the artistry of the award-winning Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building, the naturally carved wonder of Elephant Rock, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra and all the beauty of the desert.
The AlUla Trail Race continues a unique calendar of diverse sporting events throughout the AlUla Moments season – including world-class polo, cycling, endurance horse racing and camel racing.
Phillip JonesChief Tourism Officer at The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) said: “AlUla Trail Race offers the most spectacular and rewarding way to explore the delights of AlUla. With races for all ages and abilities, the AlUla Trail Race combines the importance of physical activity with the most glorious and breathtaking natural settings, providing an experience like no other that will leave memories for a lifetime.
“In addition to the races, a fantastic weekend is planned with a welcome party and post-race events at the AlUla Old Town Amphitheater.”
The 100km ultra-running adventure Sharaan Trail allows participants to be among the first to run through the Sharaan Conservation Area and its natural wonders, while the 50km Ashar Vallery Trail meanders through breathtaking landscapes of the Ashar Valley Gorges . Both races are for participants aged 18 and over.
Elephant Rock TrailFeaturing a 20km pursuit of AlUla’s most famous natural rock formation, winding past farms and through desert and mountain trails, is designed for ages 16+.
The AlUla Oasis Trail, on the other hand, is a 10km run for those aged 12+ that starts and finishes in the heart of Old Town AlUla, with a scenic journey through the farms of AlUla Oasis in between.
For something more serene, Thursday February 23rd sees the Sunset Run, a 2km easy pre-race run as the sun sinks below the stunning AlUla horizon.
And with something for everyone, the Arabian Leopard Kids’ Run is for children aged 5 to 11, where young children can enjoy a fun 1.4km Arabian Leopard themed run through AlUla’s Old Town.
Vicky is co-founder of the TravelDailyNews Media Network, where she editor-in-chief. She is also responsible for day-to-day operations and financial policy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of academic and industrial experience in the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.