About | Ultra5K Munroe Edition

Where Ultra5K started

Oman editions completed: 3
Fourth Oman edition: Late 2026

Ultra5K began in Muscat, Oman, where members of our team delivered it with GOTR and Muscat Road Runners. Three editions have been completed there, and a fourth is planned for the end of 2026.

The idea is simple: one short loop, a new lap every hour, and a race that is as much about recovering and starting again as it is about speed. A 5 km loop is never far from water, food or a friend, so it gets new runners past distances they thought were out of reach. The hourly bell gives experienced runners a sharper race: every lap has to be paced, and every minute of rest has to be used well.

Runners on the Ultra5K course in Muscat at sunset — Ultra5K in Muscat, Oman

A runner holding an Ultra5K finisher medal — The Ultra5K finisher medal

One format. Many destinations.

Hourglass Ultra5K is an annual running series that takes the same format to a new destination each time. Munroe Island is the first Indian edition.

One 5 km loop
The same short loop, set in a place worth travelling to.
A repeated challenge
Runners go out on the hour, every hour, until their category is done.
A destination visit
Families come along and explore the island while their runners race.

Our commitments to the island

Our goal is not simply to hold a race, but to build an annual event Munroe Island is proud to host.

A fair bell

Every lap starts on the hour for everyone in the category. The rules are the same for the front and the back of the field.

Local first

Homestays, food, boats, guides and transport come from the island and from Kollam wherever we can manage it.

Responsible delivery

The race is cup-free, waste is sorted at the race village, and nothing is left on the course by morning. We keep noise down for residents.

Safety and medical

Safety planning and race-day medical cover come from qualified medical providers.

Community participation

Youth, volunteers and community organisations from the island take part in running the event.

Every year

A recurring race builds awareness and gives runners and their families a reason to come back.

The team

A team of eight runners combining professional expertise, endurance-sport experience and hands-on event delivery.

Directors

Vijay Kumar MenonDirector

Endurance runner and event organiser with experience coordinating running events in Oman. Finisher of multiple 100K+ ultra-trail races and marathons.

Anand CandadiDirector

A decade in ultra and road running, with a 110 km ultramarathon finish and multiple 12-hour stadium runs. Retired oil and gas professional, based in Bengaluru.

Organising team

Subash Anchalose

250 km ultra-trail finisher with several 100K+ races, and director of the Kollam DBM Kids Run. IT and digital governance professional.

Sandeep Dubal

110K ultrarunner, Malnad Ultra 50K podium finisher and 3:04 Boston qualifier. Technology and business leader in telecom and digital infrastructure.

Abhinav Arya

110 km ultramarathoner and two-time Ironman 70.3 finisher. R&D leader with 17 years in energy, specialising in complex project delivery.

Ashwin Rajput

110 km ultrarunner with multiple 60K+ trail races and full marathons. Logistics and operations specialist based in Muscat.

Purva Narang

Certified strength, conditioning and nutrition coach who has guided 600+ people. 110K+ ultramarathoner, Ironman 70.3 finisher and multiple-time podium finisher.

Machu Shanavas

Media, branding and design professional in Muscat. Full Ironman finisher and ultra-trail runner.

Photo credits

Photos of Munroe Island, Kollam and Kerala, and the night-running photo on the Course page, are from Wikimedia Commons, used under their Creative Commons licences. They have been resized and cropped. Team photos and photos of the Oman editions belong to GOAT Adventure.

Sunset at the Munroe Island railway bridge
Navaneeth Kishor (navaneethkishor.com), CC BY 2.0
Source
The path along the dam
Kondephy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
A canal off the Kallada River
Kondephy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
A paved bund path by the water
dineshmelattur, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Sunset over the backwaters
dineshmelattur, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Blue hour on the water
Kayal Vizhi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Through the mangroves
Sanu N, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Runners with headlamps at night (Course page)
Anthospace, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Sunset paddle, Munroe Island
Sanu N, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
A canoe at dusk, Munroe Island
Sanu N, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Houses on the water, Munroe Island
Shagil Kannur, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Houseboats on the Kerala backwaters
Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
Source
Sunset at Kollam Beach
Kiran Gopi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Kollam's seafront
Arunvrparavur, CC BY-SA 3.0
Source
Thangassery lighthouse
Athulvis, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Varkala cliff
Ganesh Mohan T, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Jatayu Earth's Center
PRITAMDUTTA20, CC BY-SA 4.0
Source

Talk to us

Questions about the race, partnerships or group entries.

Email
hello@goatadvindia.com

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Organiser
GOAT Adventure Private Limited, Bengaluru, Karnataka

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