Day #2 wasn't as eventful as Day 1 in Ethiopia (Day #1 recap at link below)
https://www.letsrun.com/news/20...-military/
but it was enjoyable. Since time is of the essence (I've got to be up in 6 hours) I'm going to just give some brief highlights and then open it up to questions.
In the AM for 4+ hours I was at the kids races held in conjunction with the Great Ethiopian Run. There is an Ethiopian Youth Sports Academy that sits on quite a few acres where the races were held. There is a national soccer stadium being built next to that. It was the largest area of greenspace I've seen in Addis since being here. When I arrived soccer teams were practicing, but the kids (a few thousand) were congregating with their parents for the races.
I haven't been to many kids races in the US, but this was exclusively for kids. You couldn't access the Youth Sports Academy without an entry to the race (obviously parents could accompany their kids). The kids and parents all congregated and all the kids were wearing their race shirts and many had their face painted. It seemed 100% like a kids race in the US, except the music was blaring over the loud speakers, very loud the entire time, and the kids were going nuts dancing and whatnot. It was very festive.
The races went off by age. Under 5 girls were first, then boys. The youngest ones ran probably less than 300 meters total. Only thing different than a race in the US I thought was they had a finishing tape for the winner. Besides that everyone got a medal. And the parenting was all over the place with some being hands off and some overprotective. Many of the parents of the youngest kids ran with their kids, other set them on their way. Some of the kids had their phone numbers inked on their race shirts so they'd be able to be found after.
https://www.letsrun.com/wp-cont...66_HDR.jpg
The 8 year old kids ran maybe 800 meters and then the oldest kids I heard ran 1000+ meters. More so than the kids races I saw at the NYRR marathon, I felt the kids who took off first ran like their life depended on being first. Not all of them would hold onto the finish, but the concept of pacing didn't really seem to exist. But I find it hard to believe any of the next generation of Ethiopian distance talents will be growing up in Addis. It's not a place conducive to developing Olympic champions.
Stephen Kiprotich and Gebre Gebremariam started some of the races and they and Zersenay Tadesse were on hand to give out the winners awards (a glass looking trophy and backpack). There were way more kids at this event than events I've seen in the US.
https://www.letsrun.com/wp-cont...18_HDR.jpg
(Kiprotich and Gebremariam- speaking of kids. Gebremariam's wife is Werknesh Kidane so I hope they have many kids as both parents are World XC champs)
The only other difference I noted with a race in the US was that there were adults linked by hands who would physically hold the kids back before the start of each race. I think maybe it's a cultural thing with crowding, but I was told if they didn't hold the kids back they'd overwhelm the start of each race. And at the start of the adult races tomorrow the military links arms to hold the crowd back and then when the gun goes off sprints out of the way ahead of the runners from what I've been told. The turns were pretty sharp for the youngest but otherwise it was kids being kids
https://www.letsrun.com/wp-cont...83_HDR.jpg
After the races it was back to the hotel for a quick nap which turned into a 3 hour nap. As I was exiting the hotel to grab lunch I ran into Irish journalist Cathal Dennehy who had arrived and we grabbed a late lunch and talked about.... doping and anti-doping. That's what I talk about half the time at events like this.
Then it was go back to the hotel and turn around and go to the race pasta dinner which consisted mainly of foreigners who are running the race (I heard of groups from Ireland, UK, Nigeria, Norway and Hong Kong). The highlight was Haile Gebrselassie coming out and giving a few words and then posing for pictures. I think he's still the most popular distance runner on the planet.
Geb and the Nigerian group
https://www.letsrun.com/wp-cont...200883.jpg
Then I went back to the hotel and ventured out on my own to see if the sportsbar next door might have the Dallas Cowboys game on tomorrow. Got a beer and started talking to the bartender and then realized I was the only person left in the bar which is the nicest bar I've seen since being here (my hotel has a beer garden but its not as nice).
My personal bartender:
https://www.letsrun.com/wp-cont...053932.jpg
Went back to my hotel and ran into some Rastafarians at the restaurant who have moved from Trinidad to Ethiopia. They figured out I was American and were giving me some good natured grief for the American women's under 17 soccer team losing 3-0 to North Korea (The under 17 world cup is going on and this was on TV). Then we talked what it was like to be a foreigner of sorts in Ethiopia (they had been here close to 10 years I think) who don't really speak the language and whether the political reforms going on will last (they weren't sure, but were glad for the present).
I then ran into Merhawi Keflezighi who was back from Gebre Gebremariam's house. G2 (as I'm not calling him) was very friendly and had invited the Eritrean team over to his house after the pasta dinner and Merhawi went as well. Hawi and I talked about the races tomorrow (we aren't sure which Ethiopians are running but both think an Ethiopian will win) and Hawi's family moving to America and living the American dream and whether it's worth to go to college these days.
More tomorrow. Ask me anything about today.
More photos: Prizes:
https://www.letsrun.com/wp-cont...32_HDR.jpg
Kiprotich at race:
https://www.letsrun.com/wp-cont...826129.jpg
Disclosure: The Great Ethiopian Run paid for my travel to Ethiopia and accommodation
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- LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to wejo
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I left out my favorite photo:
https://www.letsrun.com/wp-cont...95_HDR.jpg
Pretty sure you wouldn't see this one in America.
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to wejo
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Nothing to do with the kids' races ...
You need to try tej and report on it. (Honey wine)
Also, possibly try areke (sp)... Ethiopian moonshine. It should look like clear bottled water. ;-)
Finally, traditional Ethiopian coffee.
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to wejo
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Times or gtfo
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to Angry Willy
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I love that they painted their phone numbers on their shirts, very cute.
Your comments about the children's race reminded me of a question I've had for a long time -- how does the Ethiopian developmental system differ from the Kenyan one?
It seems like half the time the Kenyans just decide to start training for distance running and get randomly discovered that way. Do Ethiopians have a youth system that actually feeds into the pros? What did say the Dibaba sisters do before they became internationally renowned?
Kenya clearly has a greater quantity of distance runners, yet the Ethiopians seem to have a similar or greater number at the very top of the sport.
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to wejo
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What times did the kids run? Faster than kids races in America?
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to wejo
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Seems like a pretty cool event. The armlocking is interesting. Did they have food after like at american races? Did they drug test the winners? (jk)
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to wejo
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A) Is there prize money featured in the race?
B) Is there any potential for you to see Bekele during your time in Ethiopia?
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to asdgasfasdf
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RE: Development system
Paraphrasing two Ethiopian friends: Basically, there is no development system. You are fast (world class), or you are not.
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to Angry Willy
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Angry Willy wrote:
RE: Development system
Paraphrasing two Ethiopian friends: Basically, there is no development system. You are fast (world class), or you are not.
You can't get to world class without training... and young people must train too, no?
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to asdgasfasdf
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Many questions.
1) Why are the signs in English?
2) What type of food are you eating? How is it?
3) How is the hotel? How does it compare to our hotel in Uganda?
4) What's the temperature?
5) Text me the login to your youtube tv account so i can watch the Cowboy game myself.
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to asdgasfasdf
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Talent is identified. Only THE MOST talented are "developed".
asdgasfasdf wrote:
Angry Willy wrote:
RE: Development system
Paraphrasing two Ethiopian friends: Basically, there is no development system. You are fast (world class), or you are not.
You can't get to world class without training... and young people must train too, no?
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to wejo
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Can't believe you tried to make photos of military personal in a developing country.
Not a good idea. You might end up in prison a lot faster than you think. And they are probably not as cosy as US prisons.
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to wejo
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wejo wrote:
I left out my favorite photo:
https://www.letsrun.com/wp-cont...95_HDR.jpg
Pretty sure you wouldn't see this one in America.
That photo pisses me off...can’t stand feminism.
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to Krofofo
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considering how women stand in the hierarchy of things in ETH, this is not a bad thing. It will take a while until women are as equalized as they are in the US. I agree with you that US feminism has gone way overboard but it's certainly not a bad thing here.
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to Krofofo
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Krofofo wrote:
That photo pisses me off...can’t stand feminism.
What does that have to do with feminism?
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to wejo
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wejo wrote:
we grabbed a late lunch and talked about.... doping and anti-doping. That's what I talk about half the time at events like this.
What an unproductive waste of time.
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to Gloria Steinem
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Great report and cute photos!
Why would that sign "Lost Children" not be found in the US? I've seen "Family Meeting" signs at big races, and I am guessing they are the same thing--a place for parents and kids to be reunited.
(Hopefully the misogynistic trolls don't clutter up this thread too badly.)
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to wejo
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You missed the NCAA XC Championships, great individual finish.
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- RE: LetsRun.com Day #2 in Ethiopia: I went to a kids race in Ethiopia...they give out finishers medals... ask me anything - in reply to rojo
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rojo wrote:
Many questions.
1) Why are the signs in English?
2) What type of food are you eating? How is it?
3) How is the hotel? How does it compare to our hotel in Uganda?
4) What's the temperature?
5) Text me the login to your youtube tv account so i can watch the Cowboy game myself.
I'm eating a lot of Ethiopian food where you eat with your hands.
Signs are in English a) because there are some Westernerns at this event, but also I think for sponsors. The sponsors who pay the bills are often from Western companies so it makes since for them to understand what is going on.
Temperature is like 50s in the morning 70s at highest point. Cooler than I thought but we are at altitude.
I don't remember the rooms in Uganda but that hotel was nicer. This one is more basic. I got bumped from the Hilton to the "B" hotel. I think the rooms on the ends (mine) don't get the full flow of hot water. I'd pay a ton for a proper hot shower.
Just a basic bed on the floor (that low) and a shower, but I do have a flatscreen I haven't turned on.
How bout them Cowboys!!!!! I'm waking up in 3 hours to go to a training camp. I'd have got more sleep if I had not watched the Cowboys game.
**I have no idea how fast the kids ran.
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