By Paul Gains

Sendafa is a small town 40 kilometres north east of the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. On any given morning, as the sun rises above the nearby hills, large groups of runners gather with their coaches to run the dusty roads and to take advantage of the 2,500m elevation.

Ethiopian runners have had a major impact on the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, over the years, finishing amongst the top places with record breaking performances. All have trained in Sendafa.

Deressa Chimsa set the current men’s course record of 2:07:05 in 2013 while Koren Jelela Yal recorded a Canadian All Comers’ record of 2:22:43 in winning the 2011 women’s edition of this IAAF Gold Label race.

Relationships with the world’s premier athlete management companies have been the reason for these close ties with the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. The 2017 edition will continue this outstanding tradition on October 22nd.

The defending and two time Toronto champion, Shure Demise, is from the same training group as Chimsa and Jelela but, since she represented Ethiopia at the recent World Championship marathon in London (where she placed 5^th) she will unable to make it three in a row. All are managed by Italian group, Demadonna Athletic Promotions.

For the past several years Gianni Demadonna, the owner of DAP, has depended upon noted Ethiopian coach, Gemedu Dedefo to develop a fine group of international middle and long distance runners. Dedefo’s premier 5000m runner, Muktar Edris, beat British superstar Mo Farah to win the recent World Championships.

“My marathon training group is 25 men – marathon runners and some half marathon runners,” Dedefo reveals. “On the women’s side there are 29 marathon runners. They train together with me but, to control them better, men and women train on different days. This is only to follow the athletes better and to give attention to everybody.

“Every time they plan to run a marathon the expectation is high. Our first goal is to win the race, not just to run. Every race is important for us. When we put an athlete in a marathon everybody (in the group) pays attention to his race.”

Other management teams have also sent their best athletes to Toronto. When Koren Jelala Yal set that Canadian All Comers record – which is still standing today – the second-place finisher was Mare Dibaba (2:23:25). She went on to win the 2015 World Championships marathon and earn a bronze medal over the distance at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Dibaba is coached by Haji Adilo an employee of Elite Sports Management International and a former classmate of the great Haile Gebrselassie. Among his enormous group, which numbers well over one hundred, is Amane Gobena, the 2009 Toronto Waterfront Marathon winner.

Each of the major management groups have small buses they use to transport some of the athletes from Addis to Sendafa. The more affluent athletes, those who have earned appearance money and have shoe contracts, drive themselves.  After giving their runners instructions the coaches hop aboard the buses and follow them as they wind their way along the roads and into the hills. They shout encouragement and watch carefully for signs of strength and weakness.

Getaneh Tessema coaches a group of about one hundred athletes and is aligned with the Dutch group Global Sports Communication.

“Some of the athletes come from the place where we are doing our training,” Tessema says. “Some come from different areas just for the training. They rent a house there and sometimes they have to do some labour work to support themselves. If they have other work it is too difficult to join all the workouts. But if I think somebody is strong enough to compete I will ask (Global Sports) to arrange a competition.”

Getaneh Tessema is sending Solomon Deksisa, who ran 2:06:22 at the 2016 Rotterdam Marathon, to Toronto Waterfront this year with high expectations.

Volare Sports another Dutch management company, which represents many of the top Kenyan marathoners, has recently set up a training group in Ethiopia. They have confirmed a young woman who is one of the most exciting prospects to come to Canada.

Hiwot Gebrekidan ran a 2:25:45 Course Record to win Israel’s Tiberius Marathon this past January. Just 22 years old she led the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon in May by a wide margin up until the final kilometre when she was overtaken. She still managed to hold on to second place. Gebrekidan could be the next Ethiopian star.

Born in Adigrat, Tigray Region in the far north of Ethiopia she moved to Addis Ababa in 2015 to pursue her running career and be coached by national coach Baye Asefa. She rents a home in the capital which she shares with a younger sister.

“During my race in Ottawa I was not healthy and I was not in shape after (winning the Cherry Blossom 10 miles) in the USA,” she says. “I felt pain in my knee and I didn’t do good training because of my knee problem. In Ottawa I went out at 15km to push the pace. When I passed 25km I felt pain in my leg. From Ottawa I learned I have to pass my first half a lot faster than 1 hour 11 minutes and I can pass it same or faster for the second half.”

“I haven’t heard anything about the Toronto marathon but I think it is better than Ottawa because the Toronto marathon course record holder (Koren Jelala) was running with me in Ottawa and she was 8th. Last year she was the Ottawa winner with a time of 2:27. I think she ran 5 minute slower than Toronto (Waterfront) Marathon so I expect Toronto is better than Ottawa.”

Although Gebrekidan’s logic might be a method to boost her self confidence there is no denying her ambition.

“First I want to win the race,” she declares. “I will be satisfied if I break the course record. I will try my best to break the course record.”

It is too early to declare the favourites for victory but one thing is certain, Ethiopian runners will stamp their authority on this race October 22nd. The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is firmly planted on the Ethiopian calendar.

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For more information and to enter this year’s race:  www.stwm.ca

About the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon:

An IAAF Gold Label race, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier, big-city running event, the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships, and the Grand Finale of the 7-race Canada Running Series. In 2016 it attracted 26,000 participants from 70 countries, raised $3.24 million for 182 charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, and contributed an estimated $35 million to the local economy. The livestream broadcast was watched by more than 72,000 viewers from 129 countries. http://STWM.ca

By Paul Gains

A year ago Kenya’s Philemon Rono overcame a world class field, humid conditions – not to mention an incident with a traffic barricade – to capture the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in a time of 2:08:27.

It was a remarkable achievement and one that was madly celebrated upon his return to Kaptagat in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley.

“There was great joy,” he recalls of being reunited with his training group back at the Global Sports training camp.  “We celebrated together and everybody was happy for me. Laban Korir was happy that the victory came back to Kaptagat.”

Now Rono has announced he will return to Toronto Waterfront to defend his title in this IAAF Gold Label race (October 22nd).

Amongst his training partners, Toronto is spoken of in respectful terms. Korir it will be remembered was the 2014 Toronto champion. It was he who had encouraged Rono to race in Canada’s biggest city after his own success there.

“I started training (for the 2017 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon) in June and my training is going along well,” Rono reveals. “I am just focusing on a great achievement. If the weather is good I will run my personal best. I am very excited to come back as I really enjoyed the race.”

Rono has a personal best of 2:07:07 recorded at the 2014 Hamburg Marathon. A year ago he also ran 2:07:20 in Hamburg while finishing second. The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront course record remains 2:07:05 by Ethiopia’s Deressa Chimsa (2013) and there is a C$40,000 incentive for beating that time.

During his warm-up last year Rono managed to pull over a barricade that he was using to stretch against, it came down on his forehead and rendered him briefly unconscious. For a few frantic minutes his management consulted by overseas telephone on whether to allow him to run or not. The decision was taken to let him see how he felt during the first couple of kilometres. As we now know, he quickly recovered and was grinning ear to ear following the victory.

Rono is currently back at the Global Sports camp training with some of the world’s greatest runners. His roommate is Brimin Kipruto (2008 Olympic 3,000m Steeplechase champion). But the most famous training partner in the thirty-man group is the reigning Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, who has had a profound impact on Rono and the others.

Philomen Rono with his training group in Kenya, including Eliud Kipchoge (front left) who ran 2:00:25 in the Nike Breaking2 attempt. Photo credit: Rosemarie Smit/Global Sports Communication

“He taught me to focus on what you want to do and want to achieve and to be disciplined,” Rono explains. Prior to his Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon debut Kipchoge had told Rono he believed he would win Toronto. “I want to be like him.”

“Mostly I stay there in the camp from Tuesday till Saturday full time. On Sunday and Monday I go home. I go home after the speed work on Saturday morning. I am married.”

Each athlete has specific duties and shared responsibilities. Rono, for example, is the camp treasurer and collects money from the others when necessary. When one among them has success somewhere in the world there is normally a celebration. This camaraderie has been responsible for numerous champions.

There is a vegetable patch which is tendered by the runners and they also have acquired some cows. And, they all ensure the camp stays clean which means rolling up their sleeves in various odd jobs – cleaning the outhouse included. A full-time cook prepares a balanced diet when the group is in camp.

The group is coached by the illustrious Patrick Sang, who won an Olympic silver and two World Championship silver medals for Kenya back in the 1990’s. His influence on the group is extraordinary from creating a tight relationship within the group to scripting their individual programs.

“Training starts at 6:00 a.m., Eliud is the one who wakes us every day at 5:45 a.m.,” Rono says. “After training we take breakfast (chai and bread), then we relax until lunch and around 4:00 p.m. we go for a recovery run.”

During the evenings, when there is some time for relaxation the athletes enjoy watching athletics, professional wrestling and soccer on television. Rono is a huge fan of Chelsea Football Club he says. While training for the marathon takes up most of his time he is also a member of the police force and reports for duty during his off season.

In the buildup to Toronto Waterfront he will continue training hard with his teammates. He will test himself with a half marathon race sometime in September and determine where his fitness lies. Earlier this year he ran 2:09:22 in Rotterdam finishing 8th. But there is much more on the line as defending Toronto champion.

Though he is still just 26 he sees himself running for another ten years and has dreams of following Kipchoge’s path.

“My dream is to run a time under 2:04,” Rono declares with confidence.  And once his competitive career comes to an end he has other plans.“I hope to be a coach in the future. But first I will focus on my athletics career.”

With the experience gained from racing and winning Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon a year ago, Philemon Rono will certainly be one to watch when the elite racers line up come October 22nd.

For more information and entry, see STWM.ca

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About the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon:

An IAAF Gold Label race, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier, big-city running event, the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships, and the Grand Finale of the 7-race Canada Running Series. In 2016 it attracted 26,000 participants from 70 countries, raised $3.24 million for 182 charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, and contributed an estimated $35 million to the local economy. The livestream broadcast was watched by more than 72,000 viewers from 129 countries. http://STWM.ca

Organizers improve on past performance to earn gold level certification from the Council for Responsible Sport for Social and Environmental Initiatives

Eugene, OR—August 8, 2017—The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM), held October 16, 2016 and hosted by Canada Running Series, has achieved Gold Level Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport (Council) by improving performance from its first certification effort (silver) in 2015. Organizers earned credit on 45 of the best practice standards offered in the Council’s certification program for social and environmental responsibility at sporting events, up from 38 achieved in 2015. The marathon, which hosted over 25,000 participants in 2016, remains the only certified event in Toronto out of over 150 total certified events worldwide.

Race Director Alan Brookes said “Canada Running Series is passionately committed to ‘building community through running’ – and that means the cities we live in as well as the sport we love. Sustainable communities; green, healthy cities for people, and the organizing of environmentally responsible runs are core values for us. We’re proud of this achievement for our city, and the certification will inspire us to do more.”

Certification is valid for two years. It is achieved by complying with criteria across five categories: planning and communications, procurement, resource management, access and equity and community legacy. Highlights from the event that earned credit towards certification included:

• Continual improvements to a comprehensive solid waste management plan to strive for high rates of diversion from landfill. Green team members assisted with proper placement of garbage, recycling and compost at each waste station.
• 135 pairs of lightly used running shoes were collected and redistributed through partner organization Community Education Services (CES) Canada, which provides secondary school education for youth orphaned in Kenya.
• 740 pounds of food was donated to Second Harvest, a local food bank that distributes the food to those in need.
• 1,200 local youth in grades 4-8 finished an active lifestyle training program by running in the 5K event weekend free. Canada Running Series covered all transportation costs, t-shirts, bib numbers and a nutritional snack, totaling around $36,000.
• Canada Running Series staff coordinated a staff outing to clean-up a community park along the marathon route.
• The Neighbourhood Challenge annually provides an opportunity for neighborhoods along the marathon route to gather and celebrate their communities by providing resources, coordination support and even prize money for categories including most people, most noise, best costumes and best entertainment.
• Supported locally owned businesses such as Chiovitti Banana and Vert Catering through direct purchases and promotion.
• The Scotiabank Charity Challenge helps to make runner’s participation meaningful by fundraising for causes important to them. Scotiabank adds an additional total of $33,000 in cash awards to the participating charities who recruit the most runners, fundraise the most dollars and who raise the most on average per fundraiser. The Scotiabank Charity Challenge is a turnkey fundraising program that provides a simple way for runners to support the charity of their choice and make a significant impact locally. Participating charities keep 100 per cent of the proceeds raised, as Scotiabank pays for all transaction and credit card fees.

“The Council for Responsible Sport congratulates Canada Running Series on this most recent accomplishment. It’s a group that has worked hard for many years now to think strategically about what it means to host events that truly support local economies, build community and reduce the environmental impacts of their planning and purchases. That’s the core of the responsible sport movement!” Said the Council’s managing director, Shelley Villalobos.

About the Council for Responsible Sport: 

The Council’s vision is a world where responsibly produced sports events are the norm and its mission is to provide objective, independent verification of the socially and environmentally responsible work event organizers are doing and to actively support event organizers who strive to make a difference in their communities. The current version of the Council’s Certification standards (v.4.2) was developed by an outside working group of both sustainability and sport industry experts, reviewed by a wide range of stakeholders throughout 2013 and implemented in January 2014. www.CouncilforResponsibleSport.org

About the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon:

An IAAF Gold Label race, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada’s premier, big-city running event, the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships, and the Grand Finale of the 7-race Canada Running Series. In 2016 it attracted 26,000 participants from 70 countries, raised $3.24 million for 182 charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, and contributed an estimated $35 million to the local economy. The livestream broadcast was watched by more than 72,000 viewers from 129 countries. http://STWM.ca