In Running, And Life, Hard Work Brings Rewards

By Brian Towey of DyeStat

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Forest Hills Northern MI senior Abdi Ahmed's journey to running stardom has been more perilous than most. 

Ahmed, who ran 15:53.67 in the 5,000 meters Friday and will run for Michigan State in the fall, had no inkling where commitment to running might lead.  

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"I have five other siblings," said Ahmed, who was born in Somalia but was forced to move to Ethiopia at age 6 due to instability in that country. "One is in Kenya and the others are here. When we were by ourselves in Ethiopia, the United Nations came to us and said, 'Would you like to go to Grand Rapids, Michigan?'" We thought, 'The education there is better.’ That is how we felt. 

"We had just relatives in Ethiopia, no guardians. Just aunts, uncles." 

Ahmed arrived, with his other siblings, in Grand Rapids as a 14-year-old freshman. 

“It was not good," Ahmed said. "No fun at all. We didn't know any English. We didn't know anything. We did what we were told." 

Soccer provided Ahmed with solace early on. Then his path changed. 

"I didn't know the difference between cross country and track," Ahmed said. "Then, one day my English teacher said, 'Hey, track is starting tomorrow. Are you going to go?' 

"I went for the first practice. Somehow I fell in with the distance group. They were running seven miles, and I went with them. They ran uptempo, 3.5 miles out and 3.5 miles back. I went with them, and they were like, 'We're doing 40-50 miles a week, and you're just staying with us?'" 

Ahmed committed himself fully to running as a sophomore, giving up a spot on the varsity soccer team. As a junior, he finished third in the 3,200 meters at the state meet, running 9:09.59. In his new sport, he's found a lasting connection to other runners in the state as well as a strong bond with his team. 

"We are all connected," Ahmed said. "We have one big group. (I) chat with kids from around the state. We're from all corners of the state." 

Ahmed lives with a sponsor family in Grand Rapids, while his other siblings live in Minnesota with an aunt. He recently established a connection with his mother, who is in Kenya and is working to bring her to the United States. 

"She's processing to come here," Ahmed said. 

Clinging to the lead pack in the elite 5,000 meters Friday for as long as he could (he finished 24th), Ahmed, with a fade haircut and an easy manner, carries the worldliness of one who has come far. His mission is far from completed, but he's borne the challenges of a wearied life well. 

"Sometimes I think, if I didn't work this hard, if I didn't put more work in, I wouldn't reach my goal," Ahmed said. "If I didn't have that motive, I don't think I'd be where I am: I'm competing against the best runners in the country.  

"For me, I'm hungrier. I don't believe it's (Somalian roots or ties). There are so many people with talent. If you want to do better, you do better. I felt I could have more opportunities in my life if I ran harder. Because it is such a hard challenge, running would make the other hard articles in my life easier."