"Age is a mental concept”

Encounter with Eticha Tesfaye, professional long-distance runner – May 15th 2009 in Geneva.

Picture to the left: Eticha celebrating his win in the Geneva Half-Marathon 2009, in a course record time of 1:04:29. Eticha and runner-up Hailu Begashaw (Ethiopia) both gratiously sporting the Help-for-Hope cap ;-)

Thank you Eticha for granting this interview to Help-for-Hope. With a personal marathon best of 2:10:04 you are one of the fastest marathon runners currently living in Switzerland. How did you get into running in the first place?

I grew up in Ethiopia. The school in my village only served children up to 10 years old. When I was 10, I had to go to a different school that was some 8-9 km away. There was no transportation, so I ran there in the morning, and back in the afternoon. I had to run fast in the morning to be on time, and hurry in the afternoon because I had to help at home with the chores.

At what age did you participate in your first race?

I started racing at age 14, representing my school together with other students. My first competition was a 800m race. I fell during the first lap, got up again and finished 3rd. Then I went on to race 3’000m. At that time, there was no special training schedule, 1 month before a race I would start training 3 times a week, but that was all.

Picture to the right: Eticha after winning the Geneva Half-Marathon 2009

Short Profile Year of birth    : 1974 Residence       : Lancy, Switzerland Family            : married, 2 daughters Yodith and Sabille Profession      : Professional runner since 1992 1st places      : Marathon Amsterdam - Marathon Lausanne (7 times) - Marathon Genève (4 times) - Marathon Jungfrau (4 times) - Marathon Zurich (2 times)  Personal best  : 2:10:04 (Lausanne 2003)

Who was your role model in running?

My uncle was a professional runner, 10k races. He was my coach since the early ages, he helped me train and make the right choices, and I owe him so much! He himself was “worth” a 2:07 chrono on a marathon, and I learned plenty from him.

Picture to the right: Eticha (right), a popular top athlete in Switzerland, here with one of his "protégés" and promising young runners Joseph Bago...

When did you first compete in an international race?

I was included in Ethiopia’s National Junior team, we mainly ran cross-country races and semi-marathons. I ranked 3rd in Ethiopia, and at age 18 was invited to participate in the Junior World Championships in the half-marathon distance. I finished 5th, in a time of 1:05.

Picture below: start of the Geneva Half-Marathon 2009, Eticha second runner from the right, ready to shoot off...

And when did you first run one of the “majors”?

In 1995, I was invited to run the semi-marathon in London, that was my first race abroad. And that same year, I ran my first marathon, in Amsterdam. It was a very hot day, more than 30 degrees Celsius. I was 23 then. I had no experience. I was in the lead group, and at the 39 km mark we were 7 athletes left. I just went for it – not knowing what to expect –and ended up winning the race in a time of 2:15.

Congratulations Eticha! How did this win change your life?

Well, you know, in Ethiopia we train in clubs, which pay us a small salary. Clubs such as Police Runners Club, Military Groups, Bank-sponsored Runners’ Clubs, etc. I was in the Police Runners Club, and we often were 25-27 people going out for runs. It is enough to live, but there is no big prize money as with the major races, and there aren’t many agents around. You need a breakthrough performance on the international arena to become the target of commercial agents.

Picture to the right: Eticha on his way to winning the Geneva Half Marathon 2009, at about the half mark and already well in the lead

After the win in Amsterdam I got contacted by a number of agents. But I had trained with my uncle, and he accompanied me to Amsterdam. I wanted to remain loyal to him. There is a lot of respect between us, we talk a lot, and I learn a lot from him.

After Amsterdam, I got invited to Cleveland, my first race in the US, where I finished 2nd in the marathon. Followed marathons in Tokyo, Marrakesh, etc

How did you prepare for races in terms of nutrition?

Very simple, I used to take a couple of slices of bread… and tea. Black tea. That was it… And in terms of preparation: when I have prepared well, I can finish fast. When I haven’t prepared well, I end up asking myself on those last kms “Why on earth are you running marathons”? Probably like so many others…

You have been in Switzerland since 1998, and have your residence here. What led you to leave Ethiopia?

I had to leave Ethiopia in 1998 due to some difficult circumstances in my home country. I first travelled to Italy, and then Switzerland, as a refugee. The beginnings were very hard, I didn’t speak the language, I didn’t know anyone.

I eventually was put in touch with Werner Nikles, who is on the organizing committee of the Escalade, and with Pierre Morat, with whom I trained together. They both helped me a lot. Before that, I hadn’t run for months. I started to train again in September, and in October I participated in the Lausanne Marathon – and won it.

Picture to the left: Eticha on his last meters at the Geneva Half Marathon 2009

This was also the beginning of an impressive streak of marathon victories in Switzerland?

Yes, I went on to win Lausanne 7 times, Geneva 4 times, the Jungfrau Marathon 4 times, Zurich 2 times. I did my personal best in Lausanne, with a time of 2:10:04, which probably on a faster, less hilly course equates to some 2:07.

An impressive “palmarès” Eticha, were you never tempted to participate again in an international “major”?

Oh yes, for sure. But at the beginning, as a refugee I couldn’t leave Switzerland. And that became a limiting factor for me, as I couldn’t measure myself anymore with the best runners in the “majors” and improve my marathon times.

Picture to the right: Eticha graciously running for Help-for-Hope at the Geneva Half-Marathon 2009. Thank you Eticha!

How do you train for races?

I run some 250km per week, and try to vary the program. I do the training plans myself. I have also started to do training plans for other athletes. For example for Joseph Bago, a young and promising athlete who progressed from 2:40 to 2:24 and has the potential to progress quite some more.

What does running mean to you?

Running is pleasure for me. It is more than pleasure, it is key to keep me in good spirits. If I stop running for a week, I don’t feel well. And it is also the main source of income for me, it has allowed me to travel and discover realities I wouldn’t have known if I had remained in my home country.

Picture to the left: Eticha recovering after the race, in the midst of runner colleagues and friends from African countries, for whom he is an important lead figure and often mentor

Are there any sacrifices?

There is a lifestyle that goes with it, sometimes that means making sacrifices. I’d love to go to the disco, drink a glass, but I cannot. I cannot do just anything, nutrition and lifestyle are important.

In addition, it is difficult to earn a living through running alone. In Switzerland sports aren’t yet supported to a degree they are in other countries, eg sponsorships for athletes’ travels, etc. I have been blessed as I hadn’t had major injuries. But I am not in a position that allows me to prepare my future, my days are full with training and recovery and nutrition, etc. There is little time left for engaging in learning a new trade or similar activities.

I have started to do sports massage, and I do training programs. My wife is a trained watch maker and would love to work outside home. We have two little daughters, Yodith and Sabille. Life is expensive in Switzerland, and it is not easy to get by.

What are your goals for 2009 and beyond?

I just ran Zurich in 2:10:21 one month ago. I want to find a nice and fast marathon race to break 2:10 this year. Beyond that, I’ll continue to run, always. And may be some day go back to Ethiopia, to a less hectic pace.

Picture to the right: Eticha (second from right, in the back row) - a popular and well liked athlete amongst childern and peer runners alike; third from left Olivier Marchon, and far right Julien Gantenbein, two top runners in the Geneva region and close friends of Eticha.

Based on your experience as a top runner, what “pearls of wisdom” would you like to share with amateur runners and with children?

Running is very much mental. If you decide to believe in a goal, you can achieve it. If you decide you can break 2:30, you can do it. If you start to think “it is difficult…” you won’t get there.

Same with age. Age is mental. You can run faster times at least until 45. I’m convinced I can break 2:10 still at age 45. It is all in the head. Haile Gebrselassie [World record holder in 2:03:59, Berlin 2008] for example is very strong in his head, and he breaks records.

And to children I would advise: “studies first – get a sound school education”.