Race day is coming
Fantastic News! Race day is almost here.
And to help you get the most out of race day, here are some final pointers to keep you right.
The race start is Meskel Square.
This is a great route, which passes many of Addis Ababa’s eye-catching buildings, such as the grand headquarters of the African Union. (See our race map)
Are you red or green?
For the first time we have two waves to start you off. The first, “red” wave is for runners who will finish the race in under an hour. The second, “green” wave is for those who wish to take a more leisurely pace, finishing over the hour.
Get to the race start in good time.
For those who are in the “red” race category, then you should get to the race start at 7.30am. Red Runners will start at 8.50am. The Green wave will start at 9am. It’s a good idea to plan your route to the race start, bearing in mind that some roads will be closed to cars and buses.
Drink Water.
Water keeps your body hydrated, and your mind sharp. Drink water the night before the race, and avoid alcohol and heavy, salty food. Coffee can also cause dehydration, which in turn can cause your muscles to cramp. Of course, as usual we have a water station around the half way point and don’t forget our power shower, at kilometre 6, to freshen you up.
It’s almost time to collect your race T-shirt for the Great Ethiopian International 10k. It will be exciting to find out which color you will run in this year. But more exciting is our Sports Expo, where you will collect your race T-shirt.
All big races throughout the world hold an Expo. Where better to give out race information, and meet with other people full of energy and enthusiasm for race day?
The Great Ethiopian Run’s Sport Expo is the first of its kind in Ethiopia. The emphasis is to link people in to sport, and promote a healthy, active lifestyle.
So what is on offer?
Sports exhibitions often serve the purpose of bringing vendors and consumers to the same place. Naturally, there will be many stalls selling sports equipment, and displaying the latest trends and designs. In addition, the Sports Expo will be a place to try a range of sports such as darts, table tennis, basketball, chess and the Ethiopian traditional sport ‘Gebeta’. Our hope is that all who come will try out these sports. To encourage you to do so, 100 T-shirts will be given out to those who try and win.
Doing Good for Body and Soul
How are you feeling?
If you have been training over the past month for the Great Ethiopian Run’s International 10k then by now you may be feeling fitter, getting faster and might also have shed some unwanted weight.
So now that you are looking good, here is a way to make you feel good as well.
Every year, Great Ethiopian Run raises money for local Ethiopian charities, through our official charity campaign. Anyone who runs our race can fundraise and help some of the most vulnerable in Addis Ababa and throughout Ethiopia.
This year four charities will benefit.
In 2014, Dennis Kimetto of Kenya ran the fastest ever marathon, finishing in the record-setting time of 2 hours, 2 minutes and 57 seconds.
This year, Kenenisa Bekele finished the same course, the Berlin Marathon, just 6 seconds short of this.
Many believe the sub-2 hour marathon to be just around the corner.
In the 100m Sprint, the 10-second barrier was once considered the key time to break for world-class sprinters. American sprinter Bob Haynes first broke it in 1964. Now the world record holder, Usain Bolt, whose record stands at 9.58 seconds, has become accustomed to finishing well below the 10 second mark.
Running is a strange thing.
Evolutionary theory would have us believe that the best runners were the most successful hunters. It is thought that groups of hunters would rely on their stamina to chase prey for hours, until the poor animal died of exhaustion. Those hunters with the most stamina would no doubt eat better, survive longer and have more offspring.
Yet running can also cause pain. Most of us have experienced stiff, sore muscles the day after intense exercise. Some health specialists will tell us that running is a high impact sport, inflicting too much stress and strain to our joints. Can something that hurts be good for us?
Do the benefits of running really outweigh the costs?
Here at GER we believe so, and here are the reasons why.