Two World Record holders in as many weeks

A couple of weeks ago sitting outside a hotel in Awassa (south of Addis on the shores of an attractive lake) having lunch with another volunteer and our driver, the conversation turned to the Great Ethiopian Run. Kay, an avid follower of athletics, was waxing lyrical about how she would at long last - albeit at a distance - see the official starter, Haile Gebreselassie. No sooner had she finished than a party of locals walked into the restaurant, followed by a noticeable buzz amongst the local diners. That was Haile. After Kay had picked herself up, our driver, Deraje, asked if we would like to meet him??!! Sure enough after we, and they, had finished eating, Deraje inquired if Haile would have time to meet us. Sufficient to say that Haile’s reputation as a gracious and unassuming individual is well earned! He may not be a household name in the States, but here in this long-distance-running-mad country he is citizen-uno. At 35, he broke the world marathon record again last year, and in his time has broken 26 world records and won numerous Olympic and World Championship titles.

Now, fast forward to the day of the Great Run (more of that in …..) and who should we meet in the elevator at the Hilton but Paula Radcliffe - the women's world marathon record holder! No, she is not Ethiopian or Kenyan, but a Brit! A few people recognized her but probably no more nor less than would probably have done so in England.

The Great Ethiopian Run is a 10K (6 mile) event through downtown Addis. This is a serious event with sizable prize money for the “elite” runners. For the remaining 35,000 people, the race is part jog, part walk, and part contact sport, as the crowding allows. Everyone wears the official green t-shirts, so in both directions there is a sea of green. People were chanting, laughing, doing their thing. In some cases “their thing” was to shout derisory comments and hold minor impromptu demonstrations as they passed certain government institutions. The Federal Police Headquarters came in for particular attention. Almost perversely the route managed to pass their headquarters both coming and going, and the intervening run did nothing to mute the crowd’s desire for catcalls and demonstrations, much to the obvious annoyance of the guards touting their AK47s. Apparently, provided the demonstrators are official participants and stay within the confines of the course, they are immune from prosecution! A victory for 1st Amendment rights in Addis. All in all a fun event, though both Anne and I woke the following morning with stiff legs.