AIMS CHILDREN’S SERIES, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA on 25 NOVEMBER 2006 – The last of the three events in the AIMS Children’s Series 2006

The last of the three events in the AIMS Children’s Series 2006 provided a curtain-raiser for the 6th Toyota Great Ethiopian Run 10km scheduled for the following day. The two events have things in common: a dramatic start and finish in the huge amphitheatre surrounding Meskal Square, Haile Gebrselassie as a committed race patron and a cast of thousands of enthusiastic participants.

The main differences to the parent event were of length and size. The children’s course was 1200m in length, comprising a lap of Meskal Square and an out and back section up a testing slope. The size of the fields were limited in this inaugural event to a total of 3000 runners split into boys and gilrs and two age categories. The size of the competitors varied from tiny through small to medium. In the under 8’s events some serious racing went on up front, but the tiny kids trailing in their wake ran the whole way.

As parents dashed from one side of the square to the other to catch the action the kids concentrated their efforts admirably; coming back into the Square for the long curving run-in to the finish they showed easy form and complete awareness of what was required. In the under 11’s girls‘ race the first three finishers all ran barefooot. Further back the main bulk of finishers had to fight for position, as the numbers attracted did not allow for an unimpeded run for all.

After the finish line each participant was awarded a drink and a bottle, biscuits and a medal, as race officials ticked their T-shirts as a receipt. Gradually the Square filled up with kids basking in the sunshine, laughing and chatting with friends and sporting the spoils of their participation.

An awards ceremony was held at which the top three in each category received plaques from a trio of distinguished personages: Carolina Kluft, Sonia O’Sullivan, and race patron Haile Gebrselassie.

courtesy:
AIMS
www.aims-association.org