• Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia)
• Mary Keitany (Kenya)
Find out more about the following East African long-distance
runners and write their growth diary.
runners and write their growth diary.
• Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia)
• Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia)
The environment
My physical characteristics
My daily routine
I grew up on a farm in Ethiopia. The high-
altitude environment helped me build
strong endurance. It gave me a good place
to develop as a long-distance runner.
altitude environment helped me build
strong endurance. It gave me a good place
to develop as a long-distance runner.
My body became used to running long
distances. My strong endurance and
efficient running form helped me save
energy and keep running at a steady pace in
races.
distances. My strong endurance and
efficient running form helped me save
energy and keep running at a steady pace in
races.
When I was young, I ran a long distance to
school every day and ran back home after
school. This daily routine helped me become
stronger and prepared me for running.
school every day and ran back home after
school. This daily routine helped me become
stronger and prepared me for running.