Lelisa Desisa Interview

Published by Athletics Illustrated on Feburary 17, 2015

Lelisa Desisa is a 25-year-old Ethiopian long distance runner who specialises in the marathon. His personal best at the distance is 2:04:45, which he achieved at the 2013 Dubai Marathon, finishing first in a hard fought finish; four fellow countrymen finished sub-2:05. He also won the 2013 B.A.A. Boston Marathon.

Desisa earned a silver medal during the 2013 Moscow IAAF World Track and Field Championships in the marathon distance and a gold medal at the 2011 African Championships half marathon. His personal best at the distance is 59:30, which makes him the fifth fastest Ethiopian all-time.

Personal bests

5000 metres – 13:22.91
10,000 metres – 27:18.17
10 km (road) – 27:57
Half marathon – 59:30
Marathon – 2:04:45

Christopher Kelsall: How young were you when you started competing, were you on a school team?

Lelisa Desisa: Yes; I started in school where I competed in many Regional Championships and I won my first race ever for my school and they decided to take me to the National Trials for school age runners and I knew then I was going to be a runner.

CK: Who were your running heroes growing up?

LD: Of course being Ethiopia you know Abebe Bikila, Haile Gebrselassie and other great Ethiopian runners; but honestly I do not have an idol exactly. I just wanted to be a runner like them.

CK: What does your weekly training volume amount to?

LD: My weekly workout changes week to week; depending on what we are training for; but if it is marathon training we can go up to 200km a week in training.