The Girls Gotta Run Foundation (GGRF) invests in Ethiopian girls who use running and education to empower themselves and their communities.

According to Unicef 1.6 million primary and secondary age girls in Ethiopia are out of school. 75% of secondary age girls do not attend their education. Add to this the long history of gender inequality in the second most populous country in Africa.

Fast Running spoke to GGRF executive director Kayla Nolan. We spoke about the fantastic programmes being run and the challenges in the current world pandemic. Importantly we also asked how any of us can directly support the lives of our fellow runners.

Where it all began

Back in 2006 Dr. Patricia E. Ortman started “a humble project simply trying to provide athletic gear to tenacious women who were using running to pursue their goals and education,” says Nolan.

The GGRF website is a wealth of information about the project and it’s history but initially the project raised funds through sponsorship and art to help with the kit needed. It’s not just kit, but also money for the extra food needed to support young athletes, for coaches and other incidental costs associated with being a young runner.

“The average age of marriage in some of our program locations in Ethiopia is 14. Initially we were working with college and high school aged girls, but we saw that we had the biggest impact on the younger athletes.”

By working with girls at ages like 12 or 13 there was a greater opportunity to keep them within education, thus helping them pursue goals that would otherwise be lost to them if they left school early.

Nolan was brought in around 2012 when the foundation had grown to a point where it could no longer just be run by volunteers. “I spent four years in Ethiopia and we built the programmes around the community needs”.

This is something that is apparent throughout our interview and the GGRF website. It’s not about pushing a charity and it’s ideals onto a group that needs help, but asking the girls and their families what can be done.

Photo: Girls Gotta Run Foundation

The programmes

It’s not just about running. There are four distinct programmes around education, running, life skills, and savings and entrepreneurship. “We evolved with the communities and tried to build solutions that are effective” says Nolan.

“Take the recent COVID-19 pandemic. We have had to adapt and find new ways to deliver critical programming for the GGRF community. We are continuing to provide school lunches, soap and sanitary pads, hand washing stations, life skills programming, and small business loans and grants for women. School is more than a place to get an education, it is also a service delivery location. With school closures, we have had to get creative with how and where we can safely deliver critical programming”

“Safe spaces are needed for these girls” and it is school that usually provides this. “It’s a space to talk about their goals, worries, and everyday life with peers and a female mentor.”

“The weekly life lessons workshops follow monthly themes which cover subjects like healthy communication, environmental studies, financial literacy, HIV/AIDs, and more.”

One of the programmes is directly targeted at helping the mothers of these girls to build their own businesses and promote their own entrepreneurship. During the COVID-19 pandemic the GGRF is still delivering the key programmes, but also helping out with small business grants so people can stay afloat.

Photo: Girls Gotta Run Foundation

Running empowerment

In Ethiopian households the names of the top female athletes like Deratu Tulu, Tirunesh and Genzebe Dibaba and Almaz Ayana are all well known. “These women are role models for the next generation of girls making an impact in running and in the greater Ethiopian society as a whole.”

“Becoming a professional athlete at the international level is challenging in any country but it is a particularly difficult path for women in Ethiopia. There are many factors outside your control that can limit your success in the running industry such as injury, corruption, lack of education, racial and gender bias, harassment, and more.”

Which is why GGRF isn’t just about helping young women become professional athletes. “Girls who are pursuing professional athleticism are goal orientated and tenacious. At GGRF, we work with girls who are looking to create change in their lives. We think running should open more doors than it closes and we work everyday to make that a reality.”

“Before entering our program, many of the girls we work with don’t see themselves as being able to finish school. Perhaps they didn’t have a role model that finished school that they could emulate. Maybe they don’t have access to a community which supports their educational goals.

Running can be a catalyst for girls to see themselves as changemakers in their lives, achieving things they never thought possible. For some, it can help them redefine what is possible in their lives and what they can achieve in their education.

Photo: Girls Gotta Run Foundation

How to support

What initially brought my attention to Girls Gotta Run was sports masseuse and friend Simon Lamb’s social media. Big hearted Lamb, who is re-establishing his popular Six Seconds High clinic, paired up his own fundraising with supporting a GGRF scholarship.

And it’s that simple. Just US$600 per year or $50/month will support a young Ethiopian woman and her mother.

It will help her continue education and her running journey, but also build life skills far and beyond the athletic arena.

There are wonderful young women who you can directly support. “At the moment, we are working to direct funds towards the GGRF COVID-19 Emergency Relief Program, providing critical resources for girls and women in Ethiopia. $600 or $50/month USD can ensure that a girl and her family are able to access the resources they need to build a future of their choosing.”

Girls Gotta Run Foundation isn’t just supporting the next generation of Ethiopian female athletes. It’s “investing in girls and women as change-makers in their lives and communities at the grassroots level.”

“Each year of education a girl completes catalyzes change for her future, her family, and her community. Education for girls means income, health, and agency for girls and their communities.

Every additional year of school a girl completes increases her future earnings by 10-20%. That’s a smart investment”.

This is about more than just running. Get involved today.

The post Girls Gotta Run appeared first on Fast Running.

Ethiopian star Ayana is best known for her 10,000m world record at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. The 5-time major medalist’s time of 29:17.45 was almost 14 seconds better than the previous best that stood since 1993.

Following that memorable night in Rio, Ayana returned to major competition in London this summer (2017) for the World Championships and blew away the field to win 10,000m gold. Crossing the line in 30:16.32 she finished an astonishing 46 seconds ahead of compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba to win her third major gold medal.

Why do you run?
I love it. And God gave me the talent and he motivates me.

Can you describe how it felt to break the 10,000m world record?
It felt amazing, I was so happy! I trained so hard for it. When I crossed the finish line, I saw the time, and only then I realised I ran the world record, which made me so happy.

During the race, I was fully focused on maintaining my pace and to stay strong in my mind.

What did an average week’s training look like before Rio 2016?
Monday AM: long endurance training in forest
PM: easy jogging
Tuesday AM: medium speed endurance on the track
PM: jogging + interval forest
Wednesday AM: endurance training in forest
PM: gym training
Thursday AM: track speed
PM: easy jogging
Friday AM: endurance training forest
PM: jogging
Saturday AM: track session
PM: easy jogging
Sunday: rest or jogging

How many miles or kilometres a week do you run?
Around 150km.

You have won Olympic and world medals in both 5,000m or 10,000m, what is your favourite distance?
I like both. Maybe 10,000 a little bit more, because I like endurance.

You finished 46 seconds ahead of the field at the World Championships in London to win the 10,000m gold. How did you feel afterwards?
Very happy because I won gold. Because of the joy, you don’t feel the tiredness and the pain in your body. I felt very happy!

Do you think anyone can challenge you right now over 10,000m?
There are so many good athletes. My fellow Ethiopians are very strong, but also the Kenyan athletes. So I need to keep working hard.

What are your biggest strengths?
I work very very hard – every day. I train, eat, sleep during the day and just repeat that over and over again. I am fully focused on my running.

According to my coach, my focus and mind are very strong. Everything in my life is focused on training and competition. I have no distraction from social media or anything like that.

What areas can you still improve on?
My speed is not so good, and I am not good at tempo changes.

Who is your favourite runner, past or present?
Tirunesh Dibaba. She is a very strong athlete.

What is your favourite training session?
Long runs, in the forest.

What is your least favourite training session?
Too much speed training.

If you were not a runner, would you like to do?
To be a doctor and help people.

What do you like to do away from running?
Going to church.

What are your favourite foods and drinks?
Chicken, spaghetti and pasta, vegetables, milk, juice, Ethiopian coffee.

What is your favourite food before a race?
Pasta and vegetables.

The post Q&A: Almaz Ayana training insights appeared first on Fast Running.

Ayana, the 10,000m Olympic and world champion clocked 67:11 to take the win in her maiden half marathon.

The 25-year-old, who also broke the 10,000m world record at the Rio Olympics in 2016 missed out on the course record of 66:54.

The current women’s world record of 64:51 was set by Joyciline Jepkosgei in October at the Valencia Half Marathon.

No world records have fallen at the level of the women’s half marathon in recent years. With Ayana’s impressive debut on an unfavourable record-breaking course, few will be surprised if she comes closer in next outing.

Ababel Yeshaneh and Netsanet Gudeta completed an Ethiopian podium with 67:19 and 67:24 respectively for second and third.

Legese, a winner in 2015, clinched the men’s race 59:46 to win his second title in the Indian capital.

Ethiopian compatriot Andamlak Belihu was five second behind clocking 59:51 for second, while Leonard Korir of United States was third in 59:52.

Approximately 35,000 runners turned out for the various events despite calls from health officials in Dehli to postpone or cancel the event due to rising pollution levels in the city.

Linford Christie was a surprise attendee at the event and was on hand for the winners crossing the line. Prior to Sunday’s race, the 1992 100m Olympic champion encouraged people to come out and run at the event.

“What’s important is to get people out. What they do otherwise sitting at home. Sit at home and vegetate,” said Christie.

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Ayana, the world 10,000m champion is scheduled to make her debut in the half marathon in Delhi on November 19. However, due to rising air pollution levels in the city, the Indian Medical Association has called for the “immediate” cancellation or postponement of this year’s event.

In some areas of the city, pollution levels are 30 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit.

On Monday, the IMA wrote to Delhi Chief Minister raising its concerns about the half marathon going ahead – which is expected to see more than 34,000 participants take part in the different events. The IMA urged organisers to move the race to later date when the air quality improves.

“The organisers of the Delhi Half Marathon have a duty to take into consideration the air quality at the time of the marathon so that no runner suffers any adverse health effects because of exposure to hazardous levels of air pollution,” said the IMA.

Anticipation has been building to see if Ethiopia’s Ayana, who shattered the 10,000m world record at the Rio Olympics in 2016, could transfer her stunning times to the half marathon distance.

Following the IMA’s concerns about the rising air pollution and safety of this years event, Bharti Airtel, the title sponsors for the last 10 years have threatened to pull out of future editions unless Delhi’s government urgently address the situation.

In a statement, the company said: “Air pollution poses serious health risks and it is important that these concerns are addressed urgently and appropriately by the authorities for Airtel to continue associating with the event next year and beyond.”

“We have received a lot of feedback from our customers and citizens at large expressing concern on holding the marathon in view of the prevailing air pollution in the city.”

The organisers Procam initially declined to comment but following growing pressures released a statement of their own calling the demands for cancellation or postponement as “shortsighted and misplaced.”

“The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon is inherently a panacea for the pollution issue plaguing Delhi,” said the organisers in their response. “The Race Day keeps cars off the designated 21kms of the city, and salt mixed with effluent treated water that is used to wash the course, ensures that the dust pollution is negated making the Race Day a far more conducive environment for running.”

“It has been scientifically established that runners and people with active lifestyles are better suited to be able to deal with the ill effects of a polluted environment and are known to have better immunity,” added Procam.

Also scheduled to compete is world champion Geoffrey Kirui. Kirui, who won the men’s marathon at the World Championships in London this summer, set his current personal best of 59:38 in Delhi two years ago.

The president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) Adille Sumariwalla, has also said that the half marathon should go ahead as planned.

Sumariwalla said to the India Times: “(If) Beijing, which is the most polluted city in the world, can have Olympics, what’s wrong in having a marathon in Delhi?

“There are 20 million people who live in the city. They are getting affected every day. So, the answer is not to have a marathon. The answer is to reduce pollution… You can have precautions, you can make .. You can have precautions, you can make sure there is enough medical aid available in case somebody is not feeling well,” he added.

At the present moment, the half marathon has not been cancelled or postponed. However, the government has today (November 9) announced plans to reintroduce car rationing to try and curb the levels of pollution.

From the November 13 to 17 privately owned cars with even and odd number plates will only be allowed into Delhi on alternate days and further developments between now and November 19 could determine the fate of the half marathon.

The post Almaz Ayana’s debut half marathon in doubt appeared first on Fast Running.

The race started with a pedestrian 81-second opening lap and with the next two laps almost as slow, it was time to move for 10,000m world champion Ayana and Olympic silver medalist Obiri.

Ayana led the charge with world leader Obiri tracking close behind, the pair going on to devastate the field in one lap.

With the African pair in a race of their own for gold and silver, it became a thirteen-woman fight for bronze, wth Netherland’s Sifan Hassan leading the pack.

Ayana had failed to shake Obiri and as the bell rang for the final lap it was the Kenyan who kicked with a superb piece of running. In the blink of an eye Obiri built up a 30m gap ahead of her rival, with Ayana unable to answer as Obiri clinched gold clocking 14:34:86.

It was amazing demonstration of distance running from the new world champion as she covered the last kilometre in 2 minutes 45 seconds and the final 400m in just 60 seconds.

Ayana took silver in a season’s best 14:40.35, with Hassan bagging a well deserved bronze in 14:42.73.

In her first major 5,000m, Britain’s Laura Muir finished a very credible sixth adding to her fourth place over 1,500m

Compatriot Eilish McColgan finished in tenth place among a strong field in 15:00.43.

In the women’s 800m Caster Semenya won her third world title, finishing ahead of Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, with the Olympic champion clocking 1:55.16. It was a world leading time and a new personal best for the South African star.

USA’s Ajee Wilson sealed the bronze, while Britain’s Lynsey Sharp finished eighth.

The post Hellen Obiri storms to 5,000m gold, as Laura Muir finishes sixth at World Championships appeared first on Fast Running.

The world record holder’s closest rival was compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba, who was almost 300m behind when Ayana crossed the line in 30:16.32.

Amazingly it was Ayana’s first race this year, after of an injury-plagued period.

Ten laps into the race Ayana began pulling away, and by the twelfth lap a gap of 30 metres had opened up between the 25-year-old and the rest of the field.

The Olympic champion ran the next 3K in 8:33, as she continued to increase her lead, before overlapping the back of the field over the final eight laps.

Ayana crossed the line in 30:16.32 seconds, outside her own world record from the Rio Olympics, but it was still the fastest win at a World Championships.  The silver went to compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba, while Kenya’s Agnes Tirop took the bronze.

“I am very happy to win this title, much more than when I won the Olympic gold because I have been sick this year and didn’t expect it. In fact, this was my first race of 2017,” said Ayana.

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