Ethiopian long distance great to run 10 mile event for first time in October

Haile Gebrselassie has added another UK road race to his 2014 competition calendar as he is to race the Bupa Great South Run on October 26.

The 41-year-old will continue his comeback from the minor knee surgery he had earlier this year by running the 10 mile event for the first time as the race returns for its 25th edition.

The Ethiopian long distance great was also recently confirmed for the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run where he will look to defend his half-marathon title on October 5.

“I love competing in the Bupa Great Run series,” said Gebrselassie. “I have run in the Great Run races in Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow, Australia and Ethiopia and I have won them all too.

“It will be great to add the Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth to the list. It will be a new experience for me at the age of 41.”

Gebrselassie, who has a 10 mile road best of 44:23 from 2005 – it being one of the numerous distances he holds the world record for – added: “My training has been going well but I cannot indicate what time I am going to run.

“I had a small surgery on my knee a few months ago but I am in pretty good shape now.”

The two-time Olympic and four-time world 10,000m gold medallist will be joined in Portsmouth by fellow 41-year-old Jo Pavey, who won European 10,000m gold and Commonwealth 5000m silver this summer, as she races the elite women’s event.

“I think what Jo has done this summer has been amazing,” said Gebrselassie. “She has shown that age does not matter that it is just a number.”

Looking ahead, he added: “I cannot say now what I am going to do in the future. At the moment I could do a very good 10km, a good 10 mile or very good half marathon.

“If I was serious, I could do the training to run a good marathon too.”

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