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Shure Demise Archives - Canada Running Series

Oct 16 2016
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Competitive Races at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

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October 16th, 2016 – By Paul Gains

Warm temperatures, high humidity and a light drizzle conspired to prevent course records at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon today.

World class fields had arrived for this IAAF Gold Label race targeting fast times but when it was over, Kenya’s Philomen Rono had won the men’s race in a time of 2:08:27, while Shure Demise of Ethiopia became the first woman to successfully defend her Toronto title.

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Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series

Demise crossed the line in 2:25:10 well off the course record of 2:22:43, held jointly by Sharon Cherop (Kenya) and Koren Yal (Ethiopia) and far slower than the world under 20 world record she set a year ago in Dubai. That time of 2:20:59 seemed a distant memory as she battled compatriot Tadelech Bekele (second in 2:26:31) and Kenya’s Rebecca Chesir (third in 2:28:54).

“I have a great deal of happiness for winning,” Demise said before praising her friend Bekele. “About 35km I knew that I would win the race. I would have been as happy if she won. She is my friend and we are very close; we come from the same place so I would have been just as happy.

“When we started I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with the rain. I was a bit conscious of that but it got better.”

For her part Bekele revealed she had suffered stomach cramps around 38km and slowed. She wasn’t the only athlete to have health issues.

While he was warming up Rono was injured when a barricade he was using to stretch his hamstrings tipped over. It crashed down on the side of his head opening up a bloody gash and stunning him temporarily.

His agent called one of his colleagues in Holland to discuss the predicament.  They agreed Rono could start but if he felt awkward in the opening kilometres he should drop out. Evidently he felt fine.

“I was not expecting to win today,” he said at the finish. “It was a surprise. When I fell and hurt my head I thought I would not run.”

The winner trains in the same camp as Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge and drew inspiration from his friend’s success in Rio.

“Eliud (Kipchoge) is my training partner,” Rono offered. “I thought after he won the Olympic games I should win this race. We are training partners so it was a good marathon for me. He told me I would win this race so I was very confident.”

Seboka Dibaba of Ethiopia was the last of Rono’s competitors to give way. That occurred just five kilometres from the finish when he said an old injury had flared up.  He finished second in 2:09:47 while twenty two year old Albert Korir earned a podium place with his 2:10:23 performance.

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon was, once again, the Canadian Marathon Championship and two of the country’s Olympians emerged victorious.

Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series

Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series

Eric Gillis finished 5th overall in a time of 2:13:44, just eight weeks after his historic 10th place finish in the Rio Olympic marathon while Krista DuChene was crowned Canadian women’s champion in a time of 2:34:02.

Rachel Hannah was second Canadian woman (7th overall) in a time of 2:34:37 proving she will be a force to reckon with over the next few years. The bronze medal went to Dayna Pidhoresky who ran 2:40:41 after running very quickly over the first 25 kilometres at one point a few hundred metres ahead of DuChene. She was legless at the end and was taken to the medical tent in a wheelchair.

The winner recognized the strength of the women’s field and paid tribute to her younger rivals.

Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series

Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series

“This is an emotional Krista day not a happy Krista day,” DuChene, 39,  said. “I am happy. I really wanted this win. This was my year with Rio and then deciding to do this. I wanted a national championships again. I knew with the conditions that fast times weren’t going to happen so it was all about being patient and using my marathon experience. It was my thirteenth one. So I knew I just had to wait.

“Dayna was someone I was looking to the whole time but then I knew Rachel was right behind me. So it’s exactly what you want to happen because it might end up in a footrace in the end and no marathoner wants that.”

DuChene became teary eyed when she thought of the tremendous support she has received from her coach and her family this year.

“I am lost for words. This is how I wanted it to be. I am just so blessed with my husband being so supportive,” she explained.

“My kids did the housework this summer. It was about me this time. I really want to savour this moment I am just so grateful for this moment, It’s all about my faith and how God can use me in any way He wants.”

Gillis admitted he was not at his best after running the Olympics just eight weeks ago and was disappointed with his time.

“I am fitter than that,” he revealed. “But I am glad I went out at 65 minutes I don’t think I would have been happy if  went out in 66 minutes and ran 2:13 I wouldn’t be happy but I probably would have felt better. It’s a decent race after Rio.

“It was tough out there. I really completely felt the opposite to what I felt in Rio. My hips tightened up and my right knee was sore. I think its a fine line keeping that balance on wet pavement.”

Although the professionals could not approach the course records there were, however, world records set on the day. Ed Whitlock who finished the marathon in 3 hours 56 minutes 38 seconds for an age 85 best.

Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series

Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series

Earlier this year he set a world half marathon record for his age group in Waterloo, Ontario and decided there was no point in trying to beat his record over that distance. Hence his quick decision to run 42.2km

The Guinness Book of World Records will soon include the name Calum Neff, 32, who knocked some twelve minutes of the fastest marathon completed while pushing a pram (stroller). His daughter Ally was the beneficiary of a course tour in 2:31:26. Neff was surprised to learn he had finished 5th overall in the Canadian championships. 5 other Guinness World Records were also set today.

Photo Credit: Todd. Fraser/Canada Running Series

Photo Credit: Todd. Fraser/Canada Running Series

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Aug 30 2016
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Ethiopia’s Demise Returns to Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

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August 30th, 2016 – By Paul Gains

Ethiopia’s Shure Demise will defend her Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon title October 16th a year wiser and stronger than when she made her first visit to Canada’s largest city.

On that occasion she won this IAAF Gold Label race in unusually cold temperatures (4C at the start) with a time of 2:23:37.

Although the temperature is usually milder and more suited to fast marathon running on Toronto race weekend, Demise’s introduction to North American racing was particularly harsh. Coming from a training environment that is more like summer, she was amongst a group of elite athletes who were caught out. Race organizers for the first time ever went shopping for gloves and hats as a courtesy.  Demise had never experienced such conditions but handled them like the world beating athlete she is.

Shure Demise Toronto

Photo Credit: Photo Run

“The weather part was very cold that’s what I remember most,” she recalls. “Yes, the weather was somehow challenging but with the will of the Almighty finally the victory was mine.

“I had never worn a hat and gloves before (in a race) at that time. The reason I wore them was because of the cold weather. I will definitely have them in my luggage this time.”

Now that she has one Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon under her belt, Demise has begun her preparation for this year’s race and has targeted the course and Canadian All Comer’s record of 2:22:43. That record is held jointly by Sharon Cherop (Kenya) and Koren Yal (Ethiopia) and has withstood the assault of many a fine marathoner.

The 20 year old Demise reckons she is destined to write her name in the record book and her performance last year has convinced her of this. Earlier this year she ran 2:25:04 for 6th place in Tokyo, one of the World Marathon Majors, and was clearly disappointed to suffer leg pain. She denies feeling pressure to match her incredible debut time.

“It (Dubai) was my first time to take part in a marathon and it was a good time,” she explains. “But no it’s not difficult, I will repeat it in the near future. I feel to improve my personal best, I must keep working hard.

“It’s the same training as last year that I am doing now. When I train individually I go 27-28kms when I run with the group it’s more like 35-37kms. With the help of the Almighty I want to improve the (Toronto) record time.”

Although the cold left an indelible mark, she also recalls the informal celebration she experienced after winning Toronto. She joined fellow Ethiopian runners and guests at Rendezvous restaurant on Toronto’s Danforth Avenue.

“I was very proud to win in that cold weather; for me it was a great feeling I never had before. Afterwards I enjoyed eating dinner in an Ethiopian restaurant in Toronto. When I got home to Ethiopia I celebrated with my family,” she explains.

Demise first turned heads when, as a 19 year old debutante, she broke the unofficial world junior marathon record with a clocking of 2:20:59. That achievement, recorded at the 2015 Dubai Marathon, earned her fourth place and a large cash prize.  Invitations to World Marathon Majors’ Boston Marathon in the spring, and then Toronto in the autumn, saw her make her first visits to North America.

As a member of an elite group of distance runners coached by Gemedu Dedefo Hailemariam, she showed promise, keeping up with Aselech Mergia in training. Originally her manager, Gianni Demadonna, had looked at one or two low key marathons for her to race but on Gemedu’s advice sent her with Mergia to Dubai. Mergia won the race in 2:20:02 while Demise earned her team’s faith with her spectacular debut.

Remarkably, Demise ran without taking water during her first marathon and she is still not completely comfortable now.

“The reason why I was not taking the water was that I was not used to do it before,” she explains, “and I was not able to catch the bottle in my hand. But now I will.

“I train with a group of  Demadonna Athletics Promotion athletes with very well know athletes like Tirfi Tsegaye, Aselefech Mergia, Aberu Kebede and many more. These athletes are very mature and I learn a lot of things from them regularly.”

Tsegaye won the 2014 Berlin Marathon, the 2016 Dubai Marathon (in a world leading 2:19:41) and was 2nd in Toronto in 2010, while Aberu Kebede has also won Berlin in 2012. Their exploits overseas fuelled her desire upon hearing their stories during early morning training sessions in rural Ethiopia.

While her training partners inspire her every day, she remembers watching Ethiopian legends Derartu Tulu and her cousin, Tirunesh Dibaba on the television when she was young. Like many Ethiopian youngsters, she took comfort in knowing these athletes came from humble beginnings such as her own.  Her parents are farmers and Demise has five brothers and five sisters.

After running a very quick 33:24 for 10000m – at the age of sixteen – it was very clear she had the talent to succeed. It should be noted that that time was recorded in Asella in south-central Ethiopia at an altitude of 2430m. Not long after she went off to Addis Ababa to stay with her brother who is a policeman in the capital.

Still just 20 years old Demise has a bright future ahead.

“I want to work hard and participate in a future Olympics and achieve a good result for my country and myself,” is her response when asked about the future. But next up is the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and an assault on the course record.

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For more information and to run with Shure Demise, Rachel Hannah & others: www.STWM.ca

Oct 18 2015
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Chemtan and Demise Emerge Victorious in Toronto. By Paul Gains

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DSC_2869TORONTO October 18th 2015. On his second visit to Canada Ishhimael Chemtan of Kenya won the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon today in a time of 2:09:00 narrowly outsprinting his countryman Gilbert Kirwa who finished a second behind.

Chemtan was 3rd in the 2014 Ottawa Marathon.

The defending Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront champion, Laban Korir, struggled with a stitch at 35 kilometres faded badly before recovering to battle his way back into 3rd place in 2:09:20.

Kirwa, who has three times dipped under 2:07 in his career was not disappointed with his narrow loss in this IAAF Gold Label race.

“I was very confident that I could win the race but maybe the other guy has prepared himself very well,” Kirwa said. “We used to train together a long time ago so he knows me very well and also I know him very well.”

The affable Kirwa agreed to act as translator for the victor who preferred to speak Swahili rather than English at the post race press conference.

Defending champion Laban Korir also of Kenya suffered a stitch at roughly 35km and after fading from the picture recovered to amount a fast finishing charge. He finished 3rd in 2:09:20.

DSC_2938The women’s race was won by Ethiopian sensation Shure Demise who ran away from the world class field to win in 2:23:37. Behind her the course record holder Kenya’s Sharon Cherop and Fatuma Sado of Ethiopia, battled elbow to elbow finishing in the same time of 2:24:16.

Officials took several hours to study the finish line video before deciding they had tied and will each receive $12,000 prize money.

Conditions were less than ideal with temperatures hovering around freezing point at the start and so it was only Canada’s Eric Gillis and Lanni Marchant among the elites who achieved what they had set out to do timewise:  finish under the Olympic qualifying standard.

Gillis ran 2:11:31 to finish 7th overall while Lanni Marchant was on pace to beat her own Canadian record (2:28:00) until 30km when her left calf cramped once again. It has been a problem throughout her marathoning career. But she was all smiles realising she  has now got Olympic qualifying standards in both the 10,000m and the marathon.

“It feels really good,” she concluded. “I came in here with DSC_2980less pressure on me. I tried to go for my record and I was good until about 30k then, like typical me, the left calf went and I was running on borrowed time at that point.

“It was the Rio standard that was the ultimate goal and if I got the record that was going to be icing on the cake. I came pretty close. I came around the bend (with 250 metres remaining) and thought ‘you gotta be kidding me but I am well under the Olympic standard and that’s a good place to be especially in 2012. I was almost there and now for certain I am going to be there and I get to my pick of events.”

Both Gillis and Marchant were well supported by their respective families as well as by the crowd to whom they have become certifiable stars since racing in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Indeed, Gillis’s five fastest times have all come on this course and Marchant’s Canadian record was set here two years ago.

DSC_2894Gillis and his training partner, Reid Coolsaet, who was busy driving to and from the airport on behalf of the event, both have the Olympic standard. Barring two other athletes achieving the time, Rio will mark Gillis’ third Olympic team. Amongst distance runners only Kevin Sullivan, Leah Pells and Paul Williams ran in three Olympic games.

A year ago Gillis ran a personal best of 2:11:21. Now at the age of 35 he is still showing good form.

“I probably got Plan ‘C’” Gillis joked afterwards. “If I was starting with plan ‘A’ would probably go to break 2:11 plan ‘B’ a personal best and then plan ‘C’ 2:11:30 something right where I have run before. Feels good. Thats more than acceptable to do that here today.”

“It feels great to have a qualifying time under my belt and I wanted to run sub 2:12 and get it by at least a minute and I did that. So what I could control I controlled and I hit the time that was in the ball park I wanted. It’s a good feeling right now to execute and get that first checkmark.”

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Sep 15 2015
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Shure Demise to Run Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. By Paul Gains

By | Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon | No Comments
Photo Credit: Photo Run

Photo Credit: Photo Run

TORONTO September 15th 2015. As a young girl Shure Demise dreamed of becoming a world class runner like her hero and compatriot Derartu Tulu. Then, in January of this year, the young Ethiopian raced to a fourth place finish at the Dubai Marathon recording a stunning time of 2:20:59 in her marathon debut.

That mark is almost three minutes faster than Tulu, the two time Olympic 10,000m champion and winner of the London, Tokyo and New York Marathons, ever ran for the distance.

Most remarkable was the fact Demise celebrated her 19th birthday just two days before Dubai. The $20,000 US prize money she earned was, indeed, an expensive birthday present.

The result is in fact an ‘unofficial’ world junior record although the IAAF doesn’t keep junior records in the marathon.

“I used to watch Derartu Tulu on television,” Demise recalls. “Then I got motivated by her brilliant talent and wanted to be like her. So I started running.

“Then when I started running I got to know about (three time Olympic champion) Tirunesh Dibaba. I heard on the TV that she was so famous, and an elite athlete of Ethiopia.”

Demise hopes the experience she has gained in racing in Dubai – followed by an 8th place finish at this year’s Boston Marathon – will help her as she prepares for the upcoming Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, October 18. It is a race she has only heard about from some of her training partners in Ethiopia.

“I know that it is a big race and some of the most well known athletes participate in it.” she says. “With the help of the Almighty I want to win this big event and become a well known athlete.

“I learned a lot about techniques of running (in Dubai). Before this race I didn’t know that water was taken (during the race) but in that race I saw and used it in Boston. I just want to set the Toronto course record and I want to go with that pace.”

Demise grew up in the southern part of Ethiopia in a town called Bore. It is in a fertile region known as Guji zone.

“My parents are farmers,” she reveals, “and the countryside is green land where many cattle are found. My parents have thirty cattle.”

“There are ten children in the family: five brothers and five sisters. My brother is a policeman and they shifted him to Addis where he works in police station. I lived with him at first but now I live alone in Addis.”

Like many Ethiopian distance runners, Demise was introduced to running at school where cross country is the main sport and where children all know the names of the leading Ethiopian runners. As a sixteen year old she ran 33:24 in a 10km in Assella, Ethiopia. That was at 2,430m/ 8,000 feet altitude and the result quickly attracted attention of coaches and officials.

Demise_Shure1-Bogota15

Photo Credit: Photo Run

Today she trains with coach Gemedu Dedefo as part of the Demadonna Athletics group. The group includes Aselfech Mergia, a three time winner of the Dubai Marathon and Tirfi Tsegaye. The latter won the 2014 Berlin Marathon in 2:20:18 and was the second place finisher in the 2010 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. No doubt she will provide useful intelligence on this IAAF Gold Label race.

In February 2014 Demise finished an impressive 3rd in the junior women’s race at the Jan Meda International Cross Country meeting.

Rather than compete on the track, which would be the natural progression, she decided to focus on road racing instead. A third place finish in the Rome Ostia Half Marathon with a time of 1:08:53 helped her decide to go straight to the marathon even at her early age.

“I saw many athletes being successful in marathon running so I wanted to proceed directly to the marathon,” she confirms.

As for the future Demise wants to create a name for herself much like her predecessors the leading Ethiopian Olympians.

“Yes, during my training time I met most of them,” she says, “but I didn’t get the chance to sit with them and share experiences. In the future I hope I can do that.

“I want to become a number one well known athlete and to participate in the Olympics. Yes, with no question I want to represent my country.”

In Toronto she will line up against a strong women’s field which includes the previously announced Sharon Cherop of Kenya, the course record holder at 2:22:43, and Canadian record holder Lanni Marchant.

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For more information and to register for the race: www.stwm.ca