Jogging “the mecca” of long-distance running

Long-distance harriers from all over the world come to the majestic Entoto mountains just outside of Addis Ababa to train at high elevations surrounded by refreshing Eucalyptus forests … and even hairy baboons. The day before the Run Across Ethiopia team set off on a 250-mile, 10-day jog for Yrgachefe, we did a practice run (about 6 miles) at Entoto. Check out the videos below (and kudos to the burly RAE’er Jeffrey Metzler for chasing a team of baboons back into the forest!

Interviewing RAE organizer Timothy Young at the start of the run

After the baboons were chased back into the forest, Norm Plumstead offers an update:

The Ethiopians from team TESFA walk us through a warm-down activity and stretches following the jog.

Following a delicious Italian lunch, we jogged over to the coffee cooperative outside of Addis which works with Chris Treter and Higher Grounds Coffee. The workers greeted us warmly.

These fair-trade produced coffee beans await roasting.