You must do as your people do. If my people are poor, I must be poor. People ask me, 'Why don't you find a personal coach or a private car?' I can't. Then I won't be part of my people.

You know the marathon in my country is just exceptional. It's like soccer in England. If England win the world cup and Ethiopia win the marathon - it's the same.

Since I achieved something, running has exploded in my country.

My father didn't think running was sensible. He told me running is just wasting time.

Schooling is so important.

Since I achieved something, running has exploded in my country. For me sometimes it is difficult even to know who the athletes are who are competing at the highest level. There are thousands.

I'm retiring from competitive running, not from running. You cannot stop running, this is my life.