Running

Running has been a constant in my life since I was young. I’ve always liked the fairness that running offered – in running you always know who is faster. It evens the playing field, especially for a country like Ethiopia – no fancy equipment needed. However, the Ethiopic Running Experience is about more than running. It is about using running as the catalyst to see the real Ethiopia – away from the Land Cruiser laid tourist track and into genuine interactions with people that have stories to tell.

I first came to Ethiopia in 2010 as a Peace Corps Volunteer knowing absolutely nothing of the history or culture of the ancient country. I still struggle to describe this country – so steeped in history and tradition, while going through a rapid phase of development. It bridges an old world culture with a modern global society.

Running has always been a meditative process for me. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, it allowed me to decompress, but, at the same time, my runs through the Ethiopian countryside helped me gain perspective. I saw children traveling much further than I was running on their way to or from school. The same can be said for day-laborers who had to work because their farmland was unproductive. My heart would jump as I startled a family of warthogs who would charge away like bulldozers through the grass. And the sunsets… the sunset over the rift valley is spectacular.

I created the Ethiopic Running Experience because I know that, through running, I can allow others to fall in love with this country the same way I did.

Starting Out

There are two types of travelers in the world. There are those that want to see and try as much as they can. They will plan for months – researching where to go, what to see, what time of day the light is best for pictures. Then there are those that just like to go somewhere and chill. When I travel, I am definitely the “let’s just chill here for a minute” type, but that does not mean I do not want to see and try new things. I just want to experience them through my own lens.

One way I like to do this is by talking with locals; the other way that I have found is through running. Running gives you a completely different perspective of a place. If you have ever used Google Street View to explore a foreign place, you can begin to understand what I am trying to describe. You cover more ground and become a passive observer in the daily life of a place that is completely new to you.

There is probably no better country to run through than Ethiopia with its rich history, unbelievable landscapes, and unparalleled tradition of long-distance running.

Last month, I visited Bekoji for the first time. I have lived in Ethiopia for nearly six years and even spent two of those years in Arsi – the zone that hosts the famous running town. Bekoji, town of runners, takes the Ethiopian running tradition to another level. I was shocked at the number of people that are up in the morning training with the legendary Coach Sentayehu, the foreigners that were visiting the town just to run, and how that contrasted with the otherwise unremarkable nature of the town. It is an agricultural hub for the area, but watching the barley harvest isn’t on many tourists’ to-do lists. There aren’t any historical sites of note, you’re not going to see much wildlife, but there’s something about running through the countryside that’s peaceful.

Right now, I only have a couple itineraries developed for the Ethiopic Running Experience. I have several more itineraries planned, but, rather than simply visiting these places, I am trying to create an experience. This means making a connection with locals. In this way, the Ethiopic Running Experience puts the attractions in the correct Ethiopic context – whether it is a 1000 year old church or incredible wildlife.

This is the beginning of my journey into the tour industry. My goal in this endeavor is to open the eyes of the world to Ethiopia and demonstrate that there isn’t only one way to conduct tours for the growing Ethiopian tour industry. Running will be the catalyst to achieve these goals.