23 YEARS OF MASS-PARTICIPATION RUNNING IN ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia - the land of high mountains, the home of ancient civilisations and the birthplace of coffee. For many international tourists these will be enough reasons to visit Ethiopia. But for those looking for a more active way of experiencing Ethiopia’s unique culture, Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa also stages Africa’s biggest mass-participation road race which for the past 22 years has been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of local and international participants with no previous running ability.

What’s more, the event more closely resembles a street carnival than a running competition: it is indeed a true celebration of the great running culture of Ethiopia.

Started in 2001 by Ethiopia’s double Olympic gold medallist Haile Gebrselassie, the run is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in Ethiopia’s national calendar. Race places typically go on sale during the rainy season and are sold out in less than a week. Both the Ministry of Tourism and Ethiopia’s national carrier Ethiopian Airlines are closely involved in the event which has continued to attract hundreds of international visitors every year, notwithstanding the challenges of the global pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The start and finish of the race takes place at Meskel Square, a perfect backdrop for the event. With its 14-lane highway extending west towards Legehar Station at the bottom of Churchill Avenue, the square will this year see more than 40,000 participants cross through the finish line.

One of the most striking features of the 10km race is the excitement and joy of the participants as they run, jog, walk and dance their way around the course. The atmosphere is like nowhere else in the world.

While most Addis Ababans think and talk about the race for its fun and carnival atmosphere, it should not be forgotten that at the race’s front end a fierce competition among elite athletes from Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda is the order of the day. In the race’s early years the winners tended to be already well-known athletes such as Haile Gebrselassie and Berhane Adere (winners of the race’s first edition in 2001), Tirunesh Dibaba, Sileshi Sihin and Gebregziabiher Gebremariam.

But as the years went by, the race became a springboard for young aspiring athletes such as Tsegaye Kebede, Hagos Gebrehiwot and Netsanet Gudeta whose victory in the 10km in Meskel Square spoke volumes about their potential for success in international races.

Behind the scenes there is a vast team of organisers, officials, marshals and other volunteers who make the race happen. And that’s not to mention the countless police and traffic police officers who are involved overseeing security and road closures. Addis Ababa’s hotels are also in on the act, with the race bringing a range of economic benefits to the city. Throughout the race’s 22-year history, the event has affectionately become known as “Haile’s Run” (“Yehaile Rucha” in Amharic) with the race taking on a special feel with Haile at the centre of operations and event hospitality. Many of the country’s top athletes come to watch the race to be with Haile at the start and finish.

The organisation with the overall responsibility for staging the race is an event management company led by Dagmawit Amare who has been with the company for almost 20 years. Working closely with Haile, Dagmawit has built a strong culture in the office and core event team where people feel that they are working as a family for the greater good of the sponsors and participants for whom the race are staged.

In addition to the main 10km race on the Sunday morning, a series of children’s races take place on the Saturday morning for around 3000 children. Often this event has been supported by organisations working in development with a desire to publicise important messages to the public. This year the race messages include “Together, We End Polio” and “For Every Child: Vaccines”.

Together with its fundraising campaign known as “Running For A Cause”, there is a strong sense of the event seeking to showcase the best about Ethiopia which goes far beyond athletic talent and achievement.

The 2023 Sofi Malt Great Ethiopian Run International 10km takes place on Sunday 19th November 2023. 45,000 runners have registered for the race.

Some facts about the elite 10km races:

▶ Elite athletes competing in the race typically come from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Eritrea.

▶ The elite races have always been won by Ethiopian athletes. Kenyan athletes have twice finished second, once in the men’s race and once in the women’s race.

▶ The first winners of the race were Haile Gebrselassie and Berhane Adere.

▶ Only three athletes, Genet Getaneh (in 2004 and 2005), Wude Ayalew (in 2007 and 2008) and Yalemzerf Yehualaw (in 2021 and 2022) have successfully defended their race titles.

▶ Wude Ayalew is the only athlete to have won the race three times (in 2007, 2008, and 2014)

▶ The fastest winning time for the men’s race is by Deriba Merga in 2006 (28:16) and for the women’s race by Yalemzerf Yehualaw in 2022 (31:17)