Hawassa – 21km, 7km and children’s races
Sun 12 Feb 2023
Join Run Africa’s tailor-made training programmes us in the picturesque hills surrounding Addis Ababa to prepare for your Hawassa Half Marathon!
Hawassa lies 275km south of Addis Ababa, at an altitude of 1700m. It is the regional capital of southern Ethiopia and a paradise of wildlife, beauty and relaxed atmosphere. Hawassa town is an excellent location for long distance races because of its lower altitude than the Ethiopian Highlands, as well as its flat ground. Lake Hawassa makes an unique setting for running: a section of the course runs alongside the lake shore, decorated with fishing boats and gigantic Marabou Storks.
Expect temperatures of 12-15°C in the early morning, rising to around 30°C in the middle of the day – by which time you will be relaxing ‘Rift Valley lakeside’ after the race, sipping fruit juice in the company of guereza monkeys, kingfishers and ibis.
PRICE
Price per person for 6 nights / 7 days: $650.00 USD.
For further information or special requests (such as group rates), please contact us. We accept registrations up to and including 25 January 2021.
Price includes:
- Accommodation in Addis Ababa and Hawassa, including breakfast.
- Transport to and from both Addis Ababa and Hawassa.
- Half-marathon or 7k race entry (runner number, Tshirt + finishing medal).
- Attendance at the pasta party the day before the race (Sat 9 Feb), including meeting Haile Gebrselassie.
- 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, Museums and Churches.
- 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, visa, additional meals or museum entrances.
EXAMPLE 7-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1 (Tuesday), 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 (Wednesday), 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 (Thursday), EXTENDED EASY RUN: Still acclimatising, this is a chance for a further run of up to 45 mins at a comfortable pace at the famous cross-country field. If you like, you have the opportunity to also visit the National Museum and discover Lucy (Dinqnesh), one of the oldest known hominid remains in the world, homo afarensis.
Day 4 (Friday) – REST DAY AND TRAVEL TO HAWASSA: Rest in preparation for the Half Marathon on Sunday. In the late morning, travel to Hawassa (5 hours’ drive), arriving late afternoon. Stroll in Hawassa city centre, visiting the fruit markets and sampling local delicacies such as fresh fruit juice and warm sweet potato.
Day 5 (Saturday) RUN AFRICA ATHLETICS CLUB SHORT SPRINTS AND STRETCHING (Hawasa lakeside): After a very gentle warm-up a few very short speed sprints to loosen muscles and open up the lungs, followed by some dynamic and static stretching drills. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and strolling in Hawasa town. Attend the Great Ethiopian Run press conference, watch the children’s races if interested and visit the G.E.R. pasta party.
Day 6 (Sunday) HAWASSA HALF MARATHON: Race day! Dawn muster, early morning start. Meet Run Africa group fellows and join thousands of others in the most fun day in Hawassa’s calendar. You’ll have your own T-shirt and race number. In the afternoon, rest, refuel and return to Addis Ababa.
Day 7 (Monday) RECOVERY RUN: Depending on your energy levels (and your flight time) today you can rest, stroll or take a very easy run (maximum 20 mins!) Your flight time may also allow for a final session of souvenir shopping 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. (Please ask us about the possibility of a 12% flight discount if you are flying with Ethiopian.) 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 travelling 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 see diverse wildlife, visit tribes of the Omo Valley or see rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and 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.
