Meeting With Haile Gebrselassie

Today I met with the world famous runner Haile Gebrselassie. It was really one of the best days of my life. I was exorbitantly happy and wanted this day never to end, but it’s one of the laws of universe that all good things must come to an end.

The morning alarm chimes on my iPhone 5 giving me the pleasant feeling of a new day. It’s 6 am, my wake up time when travelling on business trips. At home I have to wake up at an unfriendly 4.30 am and mentally get ready to run some ten to twelve grueling kilometers before breakfast. Run earlier the better as the mercury begins to rise and touch an average of 45C at this time of the year.

I’m in Dubai on business and also there is a Marathon and a 10k race on Friday morning. I shall run the 10k, my favorite run distance...

The real purpose of my visit to Dubai, is like everybody else... I buy/sell real estate property in Dubai the land of dreams, the land of big bucks and of course the land of the tallest structure in the world “the Burj Khalifa“.  

I lazily get out of bed. By now I’m fully awake, a cold shower will have me mentally alert and functional. The thought of breakfast gives me a jovial feeling. I do enjoy having breakfast, as it’s my favorite meal of the day.

I call it the happy meal. I eat heartily... The wheels - if there are any - in my head slowly begin to turn. I’m finally able to assimilate and register the thoughts that are taking shape in my head. I’m in desperate need of money, big money, and I’m also in need of a new car... Last minute hotel booking has put me in a hotel that I hate. My number one, two and three hotel choices were all fully booked, or the last room available in one of them was at double the usual rate. Why is this world so cruel to me?

As I step out of the hotel the sun is well out, indicating it’s going to be a very hot day as usual. I get a cab. I’m least bothered, in fact I’m not in my right jovial mood and wish I was still in bed preferably at home. However years of my sales experience tell me I need to get rid of this nasty mood and restore some confidence and friendly attire, some handsome smile on my face. I need to resemble somewhat to a Hollywood character. Great personalities bring in big money, but all this would require nothing less than a miracle... Lately not even silly jokes seem any funnier.

I’m soon approaching the offices of the real estate investor as my cell phone begins to holler. The investor has come up with some sort of emergency and would like to reschedule our meeting to the same time tomorrow... So much the better, and as we are passing by the Dubai Mall I ask to be dropped there.

I do not have any particular desire at this moment, though a nice hot mug of coffee will have me see the world from a different perspective altogether... Perhaps later in the day I can have a full body massage...

 It is now that I notice, right at the center of the Mall’s main passage a petite fashionable stall has been erected by Adidas. They are playing ‘Eye of a tiger‘ in loud sound demanding attention. I have no option but to walk over to the stall, where I’m told that an important sports personality is to visit the stall any time now.

A bunch of five men walk straight towards the Adidas stall. Tall men, surrounding him, he in the middle. A very small slender structure of a man, about 5’ 4” in height and approximately a little over a hundred and twenty or so, pounds in body weight.

He looks excessively small compared to his companions, he is attired in a red short sleeves T-shirt, dark coloured pair of shorts and running shoes. In normal circumstance I would not look at him twice. What’s the charm?

As they draw nearer I instantly recognize him. He has been my ideal, my hero, ever since I got into running a good eight years ago...

Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen I’m privileged to meet the great marathon runner Mr Haile Gebrselassie. The greatest long distance running champion in history.

I extend a warm welcome hand to greet the champion who is equally enthusiastic and glad to meet me. I am not able to conceal my happiness and joy, and I am overwhelmed to introduce myself to him. I want to tell him about my running, my training, my goals, my dreams. I want to tell him, and ask him so much. There are many people waiting who want to meet him as well, to get his autograph and pictures with him.   

For me, all the others, and the large crowd ceased to exist.

It’s just me and Haile...

He puts one of his arms around my shoulder, speaks so gently and continues smile. Our conversation is giggles and laughter, to an onlooker, it might appear we are two dear friends meeting after a long separation of time. I say ‘I’m sixty eight years old and have yet to run a marathon, Haile... I’ve not even done a half marathon'. He tells me that this is hardly a problem... Back home he has a friend who is much over eighty years old, and is running regularly in the company of young runners, so stop thinking of age.

Haile is a happy soul and the smile never leaves his face. He freely cracks a joke or two. He is definitely a man who has found his true purpose in life and having the best time of it. His advice on running to me should be written in gold as it means so much and is so true.

“PREPARE WELL TO SUCCEED”.

Most runners would know that Haile has won over a dozen marathons all over the world. He is over forty years of age now but still continues to run with the world’s best. He is the only runner to have completed a marathon under two hours four minutes at Berlin in 2008. He has won two Olympic and seven outdoor runners medals. Some of his great achievements are one mile in 3.52.39, 5k in 12.39.36, 10k in 26.22.15, and a marathon in 2.03.59.

No wonder he is the greatest long distance runner in history. He is fabulously rich and all these achievements have made him a gem of a person, so humble, kind helpful and extremely friendly. my wish is that he continues to motivate many to a healthy way of life. 

Meeting Haile has been a jovial experience. Had I met Elvis I would remember it for the rest of my life. Meeting Haile has completely changed my outlook towards life.

I now constantly remind myself and try to keep a broad smile on my face. I exuberate a happy feeling to all I come in touch with daily, and give out some friendly advise...

Life is great, meet your challenge, have fun in whatever you do, do your best. The day has gone by, and you have lost it forever, so spend it well.

Believe in yourself, in your potential, your body. This all came through while meeting with Haile the super star. I see the bright light.

NB- I’m confident I’ll make a fantastic sale tomorrow. The miracle I didn’t believe in DID happen - by the way I’ve bought my flashy new car, hahaha