Athletes for World-Harmony

Tergat, Haile lead youngsters in training run

2009-01-30T14:54:00.001-08:00

World marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia and Kenya's Paul Tergat lead fellow athletes in training at Nairobi's Nyayo Stadium. Photo/DENNIS OKEYO
By CHRIS MUSUMBA Posted Thursday, January 29 2009 at 19:33

Former track rivals Paul Tergat and Haile Gebrselassie on Thursday took part in a morning training run at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium. The run was organised by Gebrselassie’s sponsors, security firm G4S, to inspire upcoming athletes.

The Kenyan and Ethiopian legends are role models to many across the continent. On Thursday, they said sacrifice and discipline were important for the success of any athlete.

Such has been the rivalry between the two that they were separated by the thickness of a vest when Gebrselassie won the 10,000m gold medal at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.

Their rivalry spilled onto the road with Tergat running a world record time of two hours, four minutes and 54 seconds in Berlin in 2006 with Gebrselassie lowering the mark to 2:04.26 a year later. Last year, the indefatigable Ethiopian sliced 27 seconds off his mark.

However, he failed in his latest attempt to shatter the record again in Dubai a fortnight ago clocking 2:04.53. The last time, the two raced together was at the 2007 London Marathon where Tergat finished 10th while Gebrselassie pulled out citing allergy to pollen that was on sections of the route.

“It was unfortunate that he (Gebrselassie) did not finish the race yet it was the last competitive championship we were together. But we are great friends. I have been to Ethiopia and him here and we have exchanged pleasantries all along,” said Tergat.

The marathon icons started Thursday’s session by warming up with the G4S runners who included Pauline Korikwiang, Nigerian sprinter Obinna Metu, Fanuel Kenosi (Botswana) and tennis star Zodwa Maphanga (South Africa).

Fast run

Later, they had a fast run doing three laps around the Nyayo National Stadium track before ending the session with a light warm down.

“It is a high privilege to run against Haile,” said Korikwiang. Not all athletes can get this chance, I have been in Addis Ababa and Dubai with him. It helps inspire and propel me to succeed,” the former world junior cross country champion said.

Gebrselassie is worried his record is not good enough to last a year and he wants to improve on it in Berlin in September.

“It will require everything to be right. The last 10km will be paramount in me setting anew record. But we have to wait and see how the training will be,” he said. Tergat, cautioned Kenyan runners that the record was too far for now.

World Harmony Run at Great Ethiopian Run 2008

2008-11-29T13:51:00.001-08:00

For the 3rd time the World Harmony Run participated at the Great Ethiopian Run organised by Haile Gebreselassie and Richard Nerurkar in Addis Ababa on 23rd November 2008

Since Ethiopia's first international mass-participation in November 2001 with 10.000 participants the race has expanded in this year to 32.000.

In the slideshow you will also see the blond Carlina Kluft, Sweden's 2004 Olympic heptathlon champion and reigning world champion, who returned to Addis Ababa as one of the VIP guests.

Carl Lewis at the World Harmony Run in Prague 6th October 2008

2008-10-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

Paul Tergat, 5-time Cross Country Worldchampion

2008-09-18T00:40:00.006-07:00

Harmony » I feel that the most important thing in life is to have peace and harmony between one
another.
Especially for some of us that are sportsmen, without the peace itself and without
the harmony we are not going anywhere.
I am happy that harmony and peace have assisted me in my family to achieve what I have
achieved in my sport and has made me who I am today. So without peace and harmony especially – I am giving an example in the sport – where
we maybe have a lot of differences in terms of culture, with athletes with different colour – by the end of the day we are still talking about sport. «

Meb Keflezighi, Olympic Silver 2004 Marathon

2008-09-18T00:40:00.005-07:00

Harmony » I am happy to hold this torch on behalf of World Harmony. Running coming here is a great thing, but the friendship that you make, the people you meet from different countries, learn about their different cultures. For me it has a special touch, because I was born in Africa, lived a couple of years in Italy and now I am in the States.
I am a very international person and what could I better suit for this World Harmony Run. «

Katrina Webb, Paralympic Champion

2008-09-18T00:40:00.004-07:00

Harmony » Sport has incredible potential to promote peace and harmony in the world.
Sport is a language that everyone can speak. It is not about the colour of your skin, your
religion, your wealth, your disability-it is about being the best you can be.
Sport teaches the skills of self acceptance, goal setting, striving to be the best you can be,
working with a team, respect, dedication and commitment. It is a wonderful foundation for
life and for creating harmony in the world. «

Peter Geschwend, 2 time Swiss Alpine Marathon Winner

2008-09-18T00:40:00.003-07:00

Harmony Participating at the World Harmony Run, means for me to experience with many friends together the feeling of a drop of water that becomes from a small water to a river to a lake, to a sea and finally to an ocean. An ocean of positive thoughts and joy of life, with a deep commitment to world-peace.

Millenium Mr Universe, Natural Bodybuilding

2008-09-18T00:40:00.002-07:00

Harmony » It is a known fact that sport brings people together like music does for instance. The more people involved with it, the better the world will be.

Deep inside I believe people with a healthy mind all seek for harmony in their lives.

Sri Chinmoy has dedicated his life to make us aware that we should all live in harmony with each other and care for the world that surrounds us. He will always remain a great inspiration to me.«

Carl Lewis, 9-time Olympic Champion

2008-09-18T00:40:00.000-07:00

Harmony » Harmony for me is something that I fortunately had my entire life. I had wonderful parents that were very spiritual and loving.
Harmony is that. It is extending love. It is teaching, especially young people, that you work together. You give out what you want to receive back. Be a wonderful role model to your peers. Be a positive person. Study, educate, be accepting, but also demanding. This is what it really is.
I have been all over the world and children are not any different. They may be a different colour, they may be taller here or shorter. But if you go to Vietnam, out in the middle of the jungle, a five year old kid acts exactly the same as a five year old kid in New York City.«

Olivier Bernhard, 6 time Ironman winner

2008-04-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

» Harmony means for me in my athletic life that body, mind and soul have to go together.
That you not just move with your body, but that you also use your mind and open up
your soul.
In my family life, harmony means that my family is an important part of me. But also that I
live together with nature and with animals in harmony. «