Running in Addis Ababa: Meskel Square

I already mentioned last month that I ran at Meskel Square but, now that I am back to the Internet civilization, I wanted to tell you more about this place. Besides, I had a second run there upon our return to Addis after our 10 days in Metehara and Gara Dima.

Our trip to Ethiopia was first and foremost a humanitarian mission and I did not want to derail its focus with my passion for running and strong desire to take the opportunity of visiting this land of amazing long distance runners to meet them. I did some search on Internet before leaving and, among several contacts, heard back from Owen Barder, an Englishman taking a sabbatical in Ethiopia. In addition to great traveling tips posted on his blog, Owen advised me to go to the central Meskel Square at 5:45 am where I would find some runners there. Luckily it was conveniently located 3 kilometers from the hotel. Yet, it was pitch dark at this early time of the day and, despite the road being covered with asphalt in this area, there were a few scary holes to keep away from, on the road or the sidewalk. Here is a map of Addis Ababa with the trace of my first route around the city to visit it. Meskel Square is right in the middle, next to the Addis Ababa Museum.
Indeed, you will find runners training in the morning at Meskel Square. However, I was expecting that was just a meeting place to gather, form groups and start runs through the city. No, the plaza is actually where we run. It is large (about 300 meter long) and the workout consists in running back and forth on the benches forming an amphitheater on the South side of the square. On side of the bench for the 5,000-meter runners, the other and longer side for the runners focusing on 10,000 meters.

As I wrote a few weeks ago, this is where I met Mengsitu Abebe, one of the top Ethiopian runners and representative of the new generation of half and marathon runners. Mengsitu's main achievement so far has been to finish 3rd of the London Half Marathon in 2008 in the amazing time of 1 hour 1 minute (the same time Meb Keflezighi ran the San Jose Half in October before winning the New York Marathon a few weeks later). Mengsitu introduced me to the Meskel Square workout and we ran on the 5,000-meter side (which my Garmin GPS indicated to be closer to 4 kilometers).Mengsitu is highlighted in a recent documentary recounting the amazing story of Alex Vero who moved from an average and overweight runner to a top class marathoner in a matter of a couple of years. Although Alex didn't qualify for the Olympics (his initial goal), that shows how the body is capable with a lot of will, motivation, work and proper training. Not being in the UK where the movie has been available on Channel 4 these past weeks, I look forward to the release of the DVD, mid January (you can also join the Running to the Limits group on FaceBook). And read more about Alex in Runners' World (Zero to Marathon Hero).
Before flying back to Paris this Thursday morning, I went to Meskel Square early Wednesday morning for another run and used the 10K side this time (9K on my Garmin).Besides the high elevation, the smog really made it difficult on the lungs and I'm glad to be out of this pollution to train most of the year... Of course, the Ethiopian being more efficient, they don't have to breathe as much as we do. Yet, I wish for them that this pollution is contained rapidly.

So, if you ever visit Ethiopia, here is a place you should visit to start your journey in the land of long distance running!

Run Happy in 2010 and the new decade!