Best time to go to Ethiopia

Great Ethiopian Run 2024

Join Africa's biggest road race

Dates: November 17, 2024

Great Ethiopian Run

The Great Ethiopian Run is an annual 10-km road race held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in November. The biggest running event in the country was founded by well-known Ethiopian runners Haile Gebrselassie, Peter Middlebrook, and Abi Masefield in 2000. The first edition saw 10,000 participants, and over the years, the number has increased to some 40,000 participants. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemics, the Great Ethiopian Run gathers participants both on the streets of Addis Ababa and online to ensure safe participation.

The Great Ethiopian Run attracts many elite athletes from Ethiopia, famous for its long-distance runners and neighboring countries. Haile Gebrselassie, Gebre Gebremariam, Sileshi Sihine, Kenenisa Bekele, Worknesh Kidane, and Tirunesh Dibaba took part in the race alongside many emerging talented runners. Besides professional athletes, the race attracts fundraising participants and fun runners who compete for their own causes and reasons.

The course of this road race loops through downtown Addis Ababa, and the route changes annually, with the start and finish points usually at Meskel Square. The legendary distance runners start first, followed by thousands of aspiring runners who dash through the city amid a joyful and festive atmosphere. Addis Ababa, with its forested highlands and unique cultures, is exceptionally friendly. Runners will have a chance to socialize before and after the race and meet legends like Haile Gebrselassie.

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Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin