Haile Gebrselassie Quotes
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When I run in Ethiopia, I look out and see eucalyptus trees and rivers.
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You know the marathon in my country is just exceptional. It's like soccer in England. If England win the world cup and Ethiopia win the marathon - it's the same.
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The marathon always starts after 30K. That's where the problems start. You start without any problems, without any pain. All the pain comes after 30K. Sometimes, it's possible to have pain even in the finger.
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I feel a social responsibility. We need to open people's eyes. There is a lack of education in Ethiopia.
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I know what I want when I start a marathon: to win! But what do you want? Make sure you're clear in advance and don't go out too fast.
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You know, I want to help my country. Definitely I can help them, simply by winning races. Sure, they can follow my path to a good career. But for me it is not enough. I want to be more than that. In everything I want to be a role model.
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If your body is damaged, wounded, it can be fixed, but if inside, mentally, you are wounded you cannot fix it, it's hard.
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This is what I wanted. They tell me that London is the best field in history. I wanted to be part of that. Because everyone will be there it will be a wonderful challenge for me. You can see the best runners, how they look, how they run. For me to beat the best is what counts.
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Athletes have to be confident and I am thinking like that.
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You need three things to win: discipline, hard work and, before everything maybe, commitment. No one will make it without those three. Sport teaches you that.
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I have seen things few of my countrymen have. The first time I went on an aeroplane I couldn't work out how the lavatories worked up in the sky.
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Schooling is so important.
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Some people start a sport just to reduce weight, or some say, 'My doctor ordered me to run and do exercise', and for others, they run for completely different benefits. But it is not like that with sport. We need to eat, we need to rest, but also we need to run.
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My father didn't think running was sensible. He told me running is just wasting time.
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Eradicate poverty. This is all that matters in my country. When I am out training I think about this a lot; when I am running it is going over in my mind. As a country we cannot move forward until we eradicate poverty.
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In my life I do a lot of things but I never forget my training.
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I'm never satisfied.
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I'm lucky. The best possible place in the world for training is Addis Ababa, so I am home all the time except when I am racing. I like to be there, near my family, my kids, also the real estate business I run with my wife.
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If you're planning only to make money and nothing else, you'll be broke.
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I used to run to school, 10k every day. And this at altitude, perfect preparation, really.
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When we race in London a world record will be the last thing on our minds.
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Being a great athlete is something that requires a lot of training and dedication, it does not come as easily as some people may think.
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When you talk about world record times, you have to understand that everything must be perfect the weather, the course, the temperature. It is not always enough to be in good shape.
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Considering that the race is star-studded no runner will be willing to set the pace for the others. This is why a record will be almost impossible.