Tadesse is a 24 years old Ethiopian runner who proved in a few years that training and dedication can bring an athlete to a very high level of readiness and open the door to international competitions. Born in 1984 in Addis Ababa, an only son with three sisters, he started running in high school and won in 2004 a 5000 and a 10.000 meters race what made it easy for him to be accepted by the Unity University College Club in the Ethiopian capital.

Tadesse first national championships competition was the 8 k Janmeda cross country where he arrived in fourth position. He was then requested by the Prison Police Commission Club where he trained to run for the first time in 2005 one of the toughest races in the world, The Great Ethiopian run. Finishing in the 6th position gave Tadesse a boost and he later ran the Solulta half marathon in 61 minutes. In 2007, he came fifth in that year’s edition of the great Ethiopian run (hilly road & new course) with an excellent time of 29:24:00. He was now ready for international competitions and his first was the Warsaw International Half Marathon in March 2008 where I met him.

You can immediately feel Tadesse’s sensitivity when you meet him. He is a humble, sweet and kind person and you can easily enjoy interacting with him. He likes reading English novels and his favorite dish is the Ethiopian chicken Doro. He is single and in love with his girlfriend. In Warsaw, he was taking care of the team of four Ethiopian athletes who came to compete with more than twenty European elite runners and he meticulously made sure that his non English speaking countrymen and women got everything they needed showing a big amount of care and sports spirit.

Tadesse is a running fanatic and trains twice a day, 7 days a week. He is coached by the Ethiopian national team coach, Hussein Shebu and alternates training tracks running on the road one day and on forest trail the second. His running idol is Haile GebreSelassie and he sincerely believes that one day he will be able to reach that outstanding level of athletics hero.

After running the Warsaw half marathon in 1:03:00, Tadesse is now getting ready to come to Beirut and run the HSBC VIVICITTA- Run for Peace on the 25th of May. It will definitely be very thrilling to have an elite runner like Tadesse at the start line along with Lebanese top runners. The race looks very promising and excitement is guaranteed.

Born in 1989, in Sululta, Ethiopia, Mare began life working to help her family. School started at six, where she was immediately noticed by her teacher for her innate sporting abilities. Her teacher became mentor, encouraging her to become popular amongst her friends, and to train hard.

In 2006, at just 17 years of age, she participated in her category for the Oromiya Championships in Bala. As an unknown she took the field by storm with a win that attracted the attention of all the major Ethiopian clubs; she chose Oromiya Police Club, saying, "it's my dream club". There she benefited from the experience of several famous coaches and well known athletes, helping her to acquire international competitive skills and endurance.

A year later in her home village she became a local hero by taking sixth place in a half marathon. This led to a string of successes including 3rd place in 5000 meters and 1st place in the Oromiya 10000 meters.

2008: Her international debut came just one month ago with an astonishing win of the Warsaw International Half Marathon in a time of 1:11:24, ranking 49th in the world for 2008! Her innocent look and diminutive figure, running solo for the last few km's, ending up fighting against a male athlete, giving it all that she could, to cross the line in power and glory.

The HSBC Vivicitta International Half Marathon in Beirut, Lebanon, will be a strong test for her, with hills in the first 3km she will head off slightly slower, finishing in power. A performance not to be missed!