Addis Ababa’s 22nd Edition of Great Ethiopian Run
2022 sees the 22nd edition of Africa’s biggest annual mass-participation event take place. The Great Ethiopian Run must be experienced to be appreciated, and we anticipate it to be extra special this year! Whether it takes you 36 minutes to dash round behind the elites or 2 hours to walk round, dancing and stopping for draft beer on the way, you are one of 45,000+ happy revelers redefining the streets of Addis Ababa on the most exciting day of the year. The Great Ethiopian 10k is a truly epic experience, year after year.
Join our 10-day, 7-day or 4-day programme this November! Scroll down for details and prices.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE 10K!
Founded in 2001 by renowned economist Peter Middlebrook, British marathon Olympian Richard Nerurkar and the most successful distance runner of all time, Haile Gebrselassie, the Great Ethiopian Run is ten kilometres of running revelry, looping through the streets of central Addis Ababa.
At the front the race could hardly be more competitive. Distance legends like Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba have competed in the event, and its winners consistently go on to have successful international careers. Indeed, the race is the number-one showcase for Ethiopia’s outstanding talent pool. No other street race in Africa offers a similar mix of competition and atmosphere and, in a country which idolizes its runners, this is where legends are born.
Behind the sizzlingly fast elites, join thousands of others to pit your training against the clock or to soak up the atmosphere of the music, the drinks stations, the friendliness and the city in the sunshine.
‘One of the most unforgettable experiences I had. Ever!
Run Africa, I strongly recommend!’
– Adriana (Brazil), 2018 Great Ethiopian Run
PREPARE FOR THE RACE WHERE IT IS RUN!
Being based in Addis Ababa, we have a ‘home advantage’ when it comes to helping you plan your visit to Ethiopia. There is no better preparation than joining one of our programmes to acclimatise to the altitude before the event. Your athlete guide(s) will take you on practice runs that to help you prepare for the race. Set within forested highlands and steeped in unique cultures and traditions, Addis Ababa has been named one of the ‘Top 10 Cities to Visit’ by Lonely Planet, and Ethiopia the World’s Best Tourism Destination by the European Council on Tourism and Trade in Ethiopia. You can choose between our 10-day, 7-day and 4-day programmes.
Between training sessions you’ll have time to explore historical sites, visit bustling markets, enjoy fresh Ethiopian cuisine, coffee and juice, drive the 10k course before the race, relax with sports massage and even meet Haile Gebrselassie himself.
‘Absolutely amazing week of running and training.
I learned so much from the local runners.’
– Philip (UK), 2018 Great Ethiopian Run
PRICES
Prices are in USD per person
| Group of 10+ | Group of 5-9 | Group of 3-4 | 1-2 people | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 nights (10 days) | $350 | $560 | $710 | $1,285 |
| 6 nights (7 days) | $285 | $435 | $560 | $995 |
| 3 nights (4 days) | $218 | $308 | $382 | $681 |
Price includes:
- 12% discount on your Ethiopian Airlines flight.
- Great Ethiopian 10k Race entry (runner number + Tshirt).
- Attendance at the pasta party the day before the race (Sat 14 Nov), including meeting Haile Gebrselassie.
- Entry into our raffle to win press conference attendance (Fri 13 Nov).
- Entry into our raffle to win VIP area start on race day.
- Airport pick-up and drop-off.
- Scheduled daily training sessions with a Run Africa athlete trainer, once per day. Sessions are based on the practices of Ethiopian elite athletes and adapted as far as possible to suit the ability and expectations of clients.
- Training experience with Run Africa Athletics Club if desired and / or relevant.
- Nutrition and stretching advice and exercises.
- Post-training refreshments of local health snacks.
- Transport to and from training sessions to your hotel.
- City tour of Addis, including to Shiro Meda Market and the National Museum.
- Cultural experience to visit a Run Africa Athletics Club member’s house.
- OPTIONAL EXTRA: Massage(s) from one of our experienced sports masseurs.
Price does not include flights, accommodation or meals. We are happy to advise on accommodation options and assist with bookings if you require. We can also take care of accommodation for you and include it into the overall package price if you desire.
EXAMPLE 10-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1 (Sunday), ARRIVAL: The goal on day one is simply to settle in and to begin to get used to the altitude and new surroundings. Resting from the journey is the only ‘performance’ target of the day. Explore the streets and shops around your hotel.
Day 2 (Monday), INTRODUCTORY RUN: Guided by our Run Africa athlete trainers, the altitude and surroundings will present sufficient challenge for 20-30 mins of gentle jogging. We’ll take you to the back-trails where many top local athletes train, weaving through eucalyptus forests to large open grass areas high above the city. Altitudes here range from 2,600m to 3,000m.
Day 3 (Tuesday), EXTENDED EASY RUN: Still acclimatising, this is a chance for a further run of up to 45 mins at a comfortable pace at Jan Meda cross-country field. Visit the National Museum and discover Lucy (Dinqnesh), one of the oldest known hominid remains in the world, homo afarensis.
Day 4 (Wednesday) STEADY RUN: A first chance to stretch the distance further, running at the legendary 3,200m Entoto Hills – Haile Gebrselassie’s favourite training ground. After a thorough warm up, test yourself with a 40-minute steady or tempo run. The vistas are accordingly breathtaking. After the run, visit Entoto Maryam Orthodox church, the original site of Menelik and Taitu’s encampment before Addis Ababa was established in the mid-nineteenth century. Also on display here are some Olympic medals donated by athletes over the years. We’ll also put on a screening of the Town of Runners documentary, set in the famous town of Bekoji (Oromia Region).
Day 5 (Thursday) DYNAMIC STRETCHES: Join Run Africa AC for a session of dynamic stretching and conditioning at Millennium Park, led by Coach Negash. Then, if you like, enjoy a sports massage in the afternoon.
Day 6 (Friday) RECOVERY RUN: Following yesterday’s tempo session at Entoto, this recovery run at an easy pace will keep your muscles supple and will speed recovery. Your lungs will now be beginning to adapt to the altitude, and this recovery run (of 45-50 mins) at Sululta Meadow contributes to that, being at 2,900m. Visit the house of Run Africa Club athletes, attend the Great Ethiopian Run press conference, which glitters with famous guests, and / or drive the 10k run course.
Day 7 (Saturday) REST: Rest before the 10k tomorrow! We will take you through a thorough review of the run course. In the afternoon, visit Shiro Meda fabric market and Merkato, one of Africa’s largest markets, and attend the Great Ethiopian Run pasta party, including meeting Haile Gebrselassie.
Day 8 (Sunday), THE GREAT ETHIOPIAN RUN: Africa’s largest fun run sets off at 9am from Meskel Square at the city’s very heart. You’ll have your own T-shirt and race number, joining 40,000+ others jogging, singing and dancing around the streets of the city, many in fancy dress. Our group has priority entry in the front wave, with the élites, setting off just ahead. After finishing, collecting your medal and soaking up the joyful atmosphere, we return to the accommodation for a shower, lunch and relaxation – including with the Hash House Harriers sporting-social club, if this takes your fancy.
Day 9 (Monday), REST / EASY RUN: Depending on your energy levels today you can rest, stroll or take a very easy run (maximum 20 mins!) with a large group of Run Africa athletes at Teklehaimanot meadow. Following this, visit Washa Mikael rock-hewn cave church on the hilltop. Enjoy a cultural evening, an intimate and friendly cultural experience sampling traditional Ethiopian dishes such as injera, kitfo and chicken doro watt, as well as cultural drinks such as tejj mead, tella home-brewed beer and traditional coffee. You might even find yourself drawn into the diverse variety of regional Ethiopian dances and live music on show as you dine!
Day 10 (Tuesday), DEPARTURE: Your flight time may allow for a final session of exercise and/or a city visit.
FLIGHTS & VISAS
Addis Ababa Bole (ADD) is a continental airline hub, serving a variety of carriers including Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Fly Dubai and Lufthansa. Join any of our programmes to qualify for a 12% flight discount. Meanwhile, with the exception of Kenyan nationals, visas are required for all foreign visitors to Ethiopia, bookable online here.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Malaria does not occur in the Ethiopian highlands and so there is no need to take anti-malarial drugs before coming here. If you plan to travel to lowland parts of the country, however, it is sensible to consult a clinic. If you are travelling from a country with a risk of yellow fever, for example, you will need to be vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control website (Ethiopia page) may provide additional information for you. In terms of safety, meanwhile, millions of tourists visit Ethiopia each year, and the country is considered safe. You must use common sense when traveling with valuables, meanwhile. Aggravated crime is extremely rare here but pick-pocketing in busy areas is not unusual. For more information, please also refer to your Foreign Office or Department of State website.
FURTHER TRAVEL
Ethiopia is abundant in natural beauty and historical sites. If you would like to extend your stay to go on safari, visit the baking sulphorous salt flats of Danakhil or see rock-hewn churches of Lalibela or Tigray – to name but a few of the many diverse adventures on offer – we can help. We love to share our knowledge of this incredible country and are happy to discuss options with you.
The packages described above can also be modified to suit you. Contact us for more information. See also our Frequently Asked Questions.
