In the mountainous town of Bekoji, they breed them fast and strong.
The heartland of Ethiopian distance running has cultivated modern legends such as Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba, as well as the 2000 Olympic marathon gold medallist Gezahegne Abera. But it is Tiki Gelana, a cousin of the latter, who might yet surpass all their accomplishments.
The slightly-built 26-year-old will attempt to add to her honour roll in Glasgow this morning with a maiden appearance at the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run. Returning to the UK has revived the euphoria of two summers past where she enjoyed her finest hour, winning gold and setting an Oly- mpic record with a time of 2:23:07.
"I still remember London so well, the people, the crowds, the rain as well," she recounts. "It was an amazing atmosphere in 2012. I still want to win, even on Sunday. The fire within me is still burning."
In Bekoji, they follow her every move. On training runs, she is rarely short of company. It is an environment woven into the DNA of the town's illuminati with running nurtured from cradle to grave. "It's a special place, not just because of following in the footsteps of my elders but also because of the way we live there," Gelana says. "Every day we'd go to school, running with each other, or going to fetch water. But what's special about Bekoji is that it's at high altitude and the landscape is perfect for training, the hills you can run on, the food you have to eat, the lifestyle."
It is a formula, she hopes, will contrive to hold off twice-world champion Edna Kiplagat over the 13 miles of the women's race today, as well as Scottish trio Susan Partridge, Beth Potter and Hayley Haining. And one on which Gelana is counting to land another gold at Rio 2016. "I want to win the marathon again," she says. "I'm preparing now. It all starts on Sunday."
In the men's race Haile Gebrse-lassie is back to defend his title and he has urged Mo Farah to leave his marathon ambitions on ice until after the next Olympics, taking full advantage of his omnipotence over 5000 and 10,000 metres. "For me, if I'm Mo I want to stay on the track instead of moving to mar- athon," the 41-year-old Ethiopian said. "Maybe his coach decided but it's up to him. Mo has good speed. Why does he need to move?"
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