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Great Ethiopian Run International 10km
At a glance
- Race day
- The 2026 race
- Start
- 08:008:00 AM
- Waves until 08:458:45 AM
- Distance
- 10.0 km6.2 mi
- 10K
- Entry fee
- £80
- From abroad, for the 2026 race
The course
The organiser's 2026 course description has the road climbing from the Lideta turn at 2.8 km to 4 km, then a steep 500 m hill past the National Palace that tops out at 6.9 km.
- Two climbs between 2.8 and 6.9 kmUp from Lideta to 4 km, flat to 6.3 km, then a steep 500 m hill to the top at 6.9 km.
- Flat and downhill into Meskel SquarePast 7 km it is flat or downhill, with one gentle rise before a flat last 200 m across the square.
- A 10 km run in a city at about 2,355 mThe city sits at about 2,355 m on Wikidata's figure; the organiser's side run starts at 10,000 ft.
Course notes 4 short reads on the course
km 2.8 to 6.9GradientTwo climbs between 2.8 and 6.9 kmUp from Lideta to 4 km, flat to 6.3 km, then a steep 500 m hill to the top at 6.9 km.
After the right turn at Lideta (2.8 km) the organiser says the road goes uphill until 4 km, with the last 200 m up to Police Station No. 5 steeply uphill. From 4 km to 6.3 km it is flat, past the first shower station at halfway (5 km) and across Churchill Avenue near the National Theatre (5.7 km).
At 6.3 km the course passes Finfinne on the right, “after which there is a steep hill of 500m passing the National Palace on the right”. The second shower station is at the top of the hill, at 6.9 km. The organiser’s description is for the 2026 course.
Sourced
km 7 to 10FinishFlat and downhill into Meskel SquarePast 7 km it is flat or downhill, with one gentle rise before a flat last 200 m across the square.
The organiser’s 2026 description has a short hill to 7 km, then flat or downhill for the next 2.5 km, through the Kazanchis centre at 7.7 km and a right turn at the Urael Roundabout at 8.5 km. After the roundabout there is “a nice downhill for 500m” past the Ministry of Justice, and the road continues slightly downhill until 500 m to go (9.5 km).
At the NOC station the road goes slightly uphill towards Meskel Square. The final 200 m across the square into the finish is flat. Everyone finishes in Meskel Square, whichever of the starts they ran from.
Sourced
Whole courseConditionsA 10 km run in a city at about 2,355 mThe city sits at about 2,355 m on Wikidata's figure; the organiser's side run starts at 10,000 ft.
Wikidata records Addis Ababa at 2,355 m above sea level, so the whole 10 km is run at altitude. The organiser’s own words for its forest run above the city, held the day before the 10 km for international participants, are “high-altitude training as practised by many of Ethiopia’s champion athletes”; it starts at 10,000 ft in the Entoto forests.
Sourced
Whole courseCrowdStations at every kilometreEntertainment at every kilometre, medics every 500 m, and more runners than spectators.
The organiser calls the run “Africa’s biggest road race”, with 50k participants listed on its homepage for 2026. Along the course there is an entertainment station at every kilometre, and medical support teams “every 500m” as well as at the start and finish. Two shower stations stand on the course, one at halfway (5 km) and one at the top of the hill at 6.9 km.
For spectators the organiser’s advice is blunt: “participants on the course outnumber spectators”, because “you will have much more fun participating than watching”.
Sourced
Race weekend
Bib pickup at Welcome Desk at the official race hotelBefore race week 1 key date
-
11 Nov 2026 · 20:008:00 PM
Higher-fee online registration closes The organiser gives 5pm GMT on Wednesday 11 November 2026, or until these places have sold out.
Thursday 19 November Bib pickup
-
09:309:30 AM–18:006:00 PM
Race pack collection Welcome Desk at the official race hotel. For international and online registrants, in person; packs are not sent out. Residents of Ethiopia collect by a separate system announced through the channel they registered by.
Friday 20 November Bib pickup
-
09:309:30 AM–18:006:00 PM
Race pack collection Welcome Desk at the official race hotel. For international and online registrants, in person; packs are not sent out. Residents of Ethiopia collect by a separate system announced through the channel they registered by.
Saturday 21 November Last bib day
-
09:309:30 AM–18:006:00 PM
Race pack collection Welcome Desk at the official race hotel. For international and online registrants, in person; packs are not sent out. Residents of Ethiopia collect by a separate system announced through the channel they registered by.
Other races and side events (3)
-
06:306:30 AM
Entoto Sunrise 3k Entoto forests above Addis Ababa. A shakeout run at 10,000 ft for international participants only, led by Ethiopian coaches. It costs GBP 20 on top of the online entry. -
08:008:00 AM
Children's Races Adey Ababa Stadium -
19:007:00 PM
Pre-race Pasta Party and Cultural Evening Official race hotel, Addis Ababa. Traditional dancing and performances. Included with the international online entry; bring the invitation card, which is shown at the door.
Bib in hand?A number belt holds it without pins through your race top. Clip it on tonight.
Number belt on AmazonAmazon partner link
Sunday 22 November Race day
-
08:008:00 AM
Green Start Green Start, Addis Ababa. For competitive runners aiming to finish under one hour. Chip-timed bibs are worn here. -
08:458:45 AM
Yellow Start St Joseph School. For high-school graduates with places provided through the organiser. -
Time not published
Finish Meskel Square. Everyone finishes in Meskel Square; medals and water are handed out after the line.
The other waves, other races and side events (3)
-
07:057:05 AM–07:307:30 AM
Mobility cycle races Meskel Square -
07:557:55 AM
Elite athletes start -
08:108:10 AM
Red Start Meskel Square. For those wanting to have fun. The organiser records results for chip-timed runners only, so Red Start runners take their own finishing time.
Times as published by the organiser, in Addis Ababa time, checked . Confirm on their site before you travel.
The forecast for Sunday
Race morning, on the record
Add to calendar .ics file, times in Addis Ababa time
Entry
Race fuel
Energy gel
No gel needed at this pace
Finish
One every 40 minutes, by the clock:
Under about 75 minutes most runners need no gel: water at the aid stations does it.
For your long training runs:
Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side. Enough for race day and two test long runs.
Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.
Order by 1 November to test them on two long runs first.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.
Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.
Anti-chafe
Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml
An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.
Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.
Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Number belt
Compressport Race Belt
Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.
Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.
Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Electrolytes
SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20
One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.
One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.
Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Blister plasters
Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6
One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.
Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.
Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Questions about the Great Ethiopian Run International 10km
- When is the Great Ethiopian Run International 10km 2026?
- Sunday 22 November 2026. The first wave starts at 08:00 and the last at 08:45.
- How do I enter the Great Ethiopian Run International 10km?
- Entry is through the organiser. Entry fee: £80 (from abroad, for the 2026 race). Entry details on the organiser’s site
- Where does the Great Ethiopian Run International 10km start and finish?
- Start: Green Start, Addis Ababa. Finish: Meskel Square.
Keep exploring
More races to look at after the Great Ethiopian Run International 10km.
