Riyadh / International Trails, 2025 — At 40 years old, Nasser Hakami is pushing the limits of human endurance. He’s not your typical elite athlete who starts young, with full sponsorship and media attention. Hakami’s journey in mountain running is powered by passion, grit, and a connection to nature that goes back to childhood.
From Childhood Curiosity to Ultra Trails
Hakami grew up with a love for the outdoors: mountain paths, hiking, sitting under the open skies. Over time, this turned into something more serious. He decided to test himself not just through walks or hikes, but through ultra-trail running — some of the toughest endurance races in the world.
He first tried his hand at local trail races in Saudi Arabia, gradually stepping up: longer distances, rougher terrain, more elevation. He still recalls how challenging it was the first time he ran up steep hills that seem endless, or faced down cold weather and slippery rocks.
Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc — A Moment of Proof
One of Hakami’s most remarkable achievements came recently: running the famous Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), a 171-kilometre mountain ultramarathon with more than 10,000 metres of ascent. He finished that race in about 40 hours and 53 minutes.
For Hakami, UTMB was more than a race; it was a statement. To endure hours of climbing, cold, rain, fatigue — and maintain mental clarity — took months of very disciplined training, mental preparation, and overcoming fears.
Balancing Life, Hardship & Mountains
What makes Hakami’s story especially powerful is that he’s doing this despite challenges:
- He’s not a full-time professional with massive sponsorships. A lot of what he does, including training, travel, gear, is self-funded or through small local supporters.
- The weather, terrain, logistics of trail races are brutal: cold winds at altitude, steep trails that can injure you, and long stretches with nothing but your own mind to push you.
- Yet Hakami treats these challenges as part of his growth — he says they teach problem-solving, patience, and an ability to stay calm under pressure.
He often trains in places like Tuwaiq Mountain in Saudi Arabia, mixing long runs, hiking, sometimes walking for hours, and recovering properly. He uses mental conditioning too: inspirational talks, nature, solitude.
What Drives Him
Hakami has spoken about how mountains are more than landscapes to him. They’re sources of perspective. Routes across climbs, the trail under foot, the elements — all remind him of what can be overcome with perseverance.
He also carries pride: running in traditional Saudi garb (when possible), representing the Kingdom in races abroad, being among the few endurance mountain runners from the Arab world in ultra races. For him, it’s not only personal achievement; it’s about representing a broader potential.
Forward Steps & Goals
- Hakami hopes to take part in even longer ultra-races, possibly in the U.S. or Europe, where ultra-distance trail running is more established.
- He seeks more support — better gear, logistics help, possible sponsors — so that physical cost and travel become less of a barrier.
- Mentally, he wants to help others in Saudi Arabia see that age (40) is not too late to achieve big things in sport. He wants the next generation to believe that with consistency, one can complete some of the toughest races in the world.
Final Thought
Nasser Hakami’s story shows that sport isn’t always about prize money or fame. Sometimes it’s about mountains, quiet resolve, pushing the body until the mind believes no further. For KSAsportz, Hakami is proof that determination, courage, and love for one’s land can turn personal passion into something that inspires many.