Running Across Borders' primary mission is to expand economic opportunities available to East African youth through long-distance running.

Expansion of mission.

The countries of Ethiopia and Kenya in particular have remarkable cultural predispositions to fitness and endurance, but insufficient economic productivity to provide for the needs of their citizens. This combination of circumstances means that long-distance running, in addition to being a hallmark of national sporting identities in these countries, is a key source of economic opportunity for their citizens. Elite professional runners, particularly marathon runners, often earn over $100,000 USD in a single competition.  Even a sub-elite marathon runner is often able to earn several thousand dollars per year. Given that many top runners come from impoverished countries in East Africa, these amounts of income are greatly valued by those who receive them. Therefore, while long-distance running is not the most lucrative professional sport in the world it is certainly not the least lucrative one either.

We recognize that the economic opportunities created through long-distance running in Ethiopia and Kenya could be improved.  Athletes often chase success in long-distance running in an unstructured and desperate fashion. For example, many athletes train simply by running as hard as possible every 12 hours, sleeping for much of the time in between; they eat insufficient diets in terms of both the amount of calories and nutritional composition; athletes do not have access to recovery-aiding techniques such as showering and massaging; athletes do not wear footwear that is adequately supportive and protective; athletes do not have a coach to monitor, control, and structure their training. With the benefit or these resources and in a more structured training regime athletes would train better and have the time and energy to accomplish goals outside of their training related to education and employment.

Furthermore, many economic possibilities stemming from long-distance running are often overlooked due to economic disempowerment of local African people best positioned to pursue them. Running represents an industry that could employ people not only as athletes but also in sports administration, sports tourism, sports medicine, research and education in the science of athletic performance, coaching, and support of social development efforts (such as athletes delivering educational programs on health awareness). All of these opportunities could be pursued by retired East African athletes and also by other qualified individuals in their countries, but at present time are either minimized or gained by people based outside of Africa. Running Across Borders aim is to expand the opportunities for such success and sustainability.

In taking this mission forward Running Across Borders will provide East Africans with:

Competitive Opportunities: In agreement and cooperation with the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) and Athletics Kenya (AK), arrange for East African runners to travel to Europe and compete in races that: a) are already recognized as international-level races, b) are contested at sea level, and c) offer cash prizes and/or travel assistance for elite athletes. These races will offer competitive recognition to East African athletes, produce the fastest race times possible and be self-financing in terms of the travel costs involved.

High-standard training camps in East Africa: Arrange training camps in Ethiopia and Kenya that allow the East African athletes to train optimally, by providing them with accommodation, food, equipment, scientific performance analysis, and coaching consultations. Our first camp is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  and provides western-standard accommodation, training, meals and scientific performance analysis. The camp is supervised by Tizazu Wubeshet former Head coach for the Arsi Region Athletics Association and eighteen years with the Ethiopian Police Sports Club Omedla.  Project co-founder Garrett Ash is an experienced coach with USA Track and Field (USATF) and has National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS) certifications.

Education: Arrange educational opportunities for the runners. Athletes will have the chance to learn English as a Second Language (ESL) through material resources and the assistance of visiting foreigners.  Furthermore, for athletes of appropriate age and academic qualifications, we will help facilitate and support their pursuit of higher education within Ethiopia/Kenya and, for those most academically gifted, seek to provide educational opportunities in foreign countries. These arrangements will not be funded by RAB but through scholarships at participating universities on the basis of the athletes' academic and athletic merits; we will help by making links between the athletes and the universities.

Employment: For the East African athletes not currently at world-class status, arrange employment opportunities to be pursued during their non-running time as a means of supporting themselves. In particular, they can offer services to visiting foreigners beyond acting as guides and coaches. They can be chefs, cleaners, and household maintenance and repair specialists as well as accountants and managers for the general operation of our training camps.

Equipment:  For East African Athletes we outfit the running camps with proper scientific and medical resources and facilitate the donation of used running shoes and clothing from foreigners for use by the Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes.

For Europeans and Americans Running Across Borders will facilitate:

Visits to East Africa by Foreigners: Arrange for European, American and other individuals from developed countries  who have an interest in improving their running performance and/or overall health to visit Ethiopia or Kenya and experience the optimal training environment. Transportation will be arranged so that they can travel to all of the main local training venues, and the Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes will act as guides, coaches, and training partners.

Cultural Exchange with East Africans: While the East Africans are in Europe, arrange for as much interaction as possible between them and European/American people who are involved with running and fitness. Ethiopians/Kenyans will train with local running clubs and give instructional clinics for running and fitness groups, participate in social events, and visit people's homes for dinner, and/or accommodation.

Cultural exchange is inherent to our strategic aims. We develop East African athletes into world-class competitors or working professionals, while simultaneously providing a unique training environment to Europeans, Americans and others from the developed world who seek to enhance their fitness and overall running ability

Please feel free to contact us to learn more of Running Across Borders' work.