By Jonathan GaultJanuary 12, 2021Modern distance running has two superpowers. Everyone from the New York Times to GQ have written about Eliud Kipchoge, whose charisma, wisdom, and unparalleled ability have made him the biggest distance running star in Kenya’s storied history. As the distance running world has learned more about Eldoret and Iten, Brother Colm O’Connell and Patrick Sang, Kenya’s northern neighbors have proved a tougher nut to crack. To truly study all the different cultures present in Ethiopian distance running would have required an investment of time, language study, and resources beyond the scope of a single individual. Out of Thin Air, meanwhile, is about the journey, illuminating the structures and beliefs of Ethiopian distance running and the path the nation’s runners must take to (hopefully) one day arrive on the start line of a major marathon.

Source: Ethiopian News January 12, 2021 21:11 UTC