If you don't know by now Ethiopia boasts some of the greatest track and field athletes to have walked this earth. Their love of running is similar to the American love of baseball...something so many little kids do, almost as a right of passage. Here in the mountains, the air can knock the wind out of you just from jogging, but these children are on another level when it it comes to oxygen intake. Their stamina is unbelievable. Notice the gloves? Did I mention they train in the mountains, at 3200m? It's cold! Not Denver cold in November, but similar. With lack of proper training gear and hurling winds, I don't know how they do it, but they do - with no complaints. It's fun to them, sort of a game. You remember being competitive as a child right? Nothing will stop you from showing others you can do it! That's the sort of attitude that circulates around here - the love of competition.
On most days we have to train on the road, early in the morning around 6am, due to school and the frosty grass. ? I'd love to get them out on a track, but we're around 8 hours from the nearest track so it's not feasible. They don't mind the road either, especially on long run days. They love the sound of their stride early in the morning.
Kid's ages range from 10-19 years old, so because of that, I split them up in groups. What's funny, and expected, are the youngins who insist on running with the older boys. They'll last for a few reps only to falter back and drop back into their respective groups.
What I love most about training athletes, especially in Ethiopia, is the love for your fellow training partners. The relationships you build through blood, sweat, and tears, will last for a long time. There's nothing like having a friend go through the trenches with you and coming out on top together. In Ethiopia, it's very common to see boys show each other levels of affection taboo to the West. They will put their arms around each other, hold hands in public, and even greet with kisses to on the cheek. All of this is in the love of brotherhood. So after every practice, it's very common to see friends embracing as such to show appreciation for one another. Truly heart warming!
