The Great Ethiopian Run is an annual 10-kilometer road running event held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in late November. Following Haile’s return from the 2000 Summer Olympics, neighbors Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie, Peter Middlebrook, and Abi Masefield conceived of the competition in late October 2000. The initial edition’s 10,000 entries soon sold out, and other people unofficially entered the race without receiving a number. The race’s inception marked the first time a significant annual 10 km race was organized in the country, which is known for producing world-class athletes. A prominent international 10 km race and a 5 km women-only race are among the day’s festivities.
A lot of well-known runners compete in the elite race. The inaugural men’s race was won by Haile Gebrselassie, and many of the country’s best long-distance runners competed in the second edition, with Gebre Gebremariam, Sileshi Sihine, and Kenenisa Bekele forming the top three in the men’s race, and Worknesh Kidane and Tirunesh Dibaba taking first and second in the women’s race. The race is notable for showcasing the best of Ethiopia’s up-and-coming running talent – many of the race’s podium finishers, who were little-known at the time, have gone on to achieve success on the international arena.
