Mohammed Ahmed Q&A: Top 10 in the world in the 10,000m

If all came together at the right time for Mohammed Ahmed, who recorded the best-ever finish by a Canadian at the world championships in the men’s 10,000m in August, placing 9th in 27:35.76.

Mo Speed

“Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” – Michael Jordan

At 5-foot-11 and 125 pounds, Ahmed is a lean, mean running machine who can screech around the track for 25 laps at an insane pace of 66 seconds per lap.

From a family of five children, Ahmed was born in Saudi Arabia and lived in Somalia as a toddler before his family moved to St. Catharines, Ont. Now attending the University of Wisconsin, the 22-year-old is often far away from home during the school year, but heads back to Ontario for regular visits to connect with his family, especially brother Ibrahim, who is also a runner, and who Ahmed says helped him with workouts and training.

No stranger to Canadian running scene, Ahmed is a four-time Canadian junior 5000m champion and twice finished in the top 10 at the world junior championships (4th in 2010, 9th in 2008). His resume also includes a Pan American junior title, seven NCAA All-American awards in track and cross-country, and an Olympic berth in the 10,000m at the 2012 Games in London.

At this year’s world championships 10,000m final that saw Great Britain’s Mo Farrah outkick a deep field of world talent, Ahmed cracked the top 10. Sometimes other sports seem more glamorous or get more attention. Sometimes if it’s not gold, silver or bronze, it’s not mentioned. But anyone who lands a top-10 finish in the world in an event that pits hungry, hardened pure endurance athletes in a race of 25 laps at dizzying pace has my utmost respect.

Reaching out through Facebook and some mutual running friends, I asked Ahmed a few questions about the worlds and his running.

You have previously had some world-level performances and made the 2012 Olympics, but how did the 9th-place finish at the worlds feel?

The 9th-place finish at the world championships felt good. I feel that I am moving in the right direction in terms of progressing every year. I finished 18th last year in practically the same field at worlds, so to improve by nine spots in less than a year is a good indication that I am doing the right things in practice in order to see progression.

Running at such a high level at the age of 22, what are your running goals?

Every runner aspires and dreams of one day becoming a world and Olympic champion and I am not any different. That being said, I know that I have a tough climb ahead of me in order to fulfill those aspirations. I know that I have to keep doing all the things that I have been doing so far in my running career and if I keep progressing the way that I have been, I don’t see why I should not have those dreams and aspirations in mind.

What first drew you to running, and outside of competition, what has running taught you?

I have to say, what drew me in to running is probably the competitive household I grew up in. I grew up in a household of four boys, of which I am the oldest, and with an environment with so much testosterone everything is a competition. My two younger brothers (Kadar and Ibrahim, who are twins) and I did everything together, I’d have to say they have been the only best friends I have ever had and continue to be to this day. We played all kinds of sports together and they served as my introduction to running. I remember watching them dominate elementary track and field day when they were in 4th grade and I was in 6th grade. I was inspired by their performances that I went out for the cross-country team in grade 7. If i didn’t see that, I don’t think I would be running today. Running has taught me patience. Like all other sports, running is filled with uncertainty; you don’t know how your body is going to feel from day to day, let alone the outcomes of your goals. I head out my door every day in an attempt to fulfill aspirations that may not come to fruition. With so much uncertainty, being patient has been an important lesson.

Who has inspired you now or in the past?

My mom, dad, sister and brothers are the people that continually inspire me in my life generally. I wish I had half the work ethic of my parents. In terms of running, Kenenisa Bekele and Mo Farah have been the biggest inspirations and are the two guys that I try to emulate in their running accomplishments and success. Bekele’s running accolades are what every runner wishes and dreams of doing. I was starting my running career when he was breaking world records, I remember watching him and being like, “Wow I want to do that one day.” Mo Farah has been an inspiration to me because he and I have similar story and in that I relate to him more than any other runner. He has been the one guy that I have been a fan of since his junior days and I have been paying close attention to his progression. I knew he was going to be good one day and every year I tried bettering his age PBs, which I have for the most part. When he broke out in 2011 I was delighted, because it gave me reassurance, that with dedication and hard work you will eventually achieve what you aspire to be. For me, Mo Farah epitomizes patience, because watching his progression over the years it took him 10 years to get to where he is today.

Anything you want to say to young runners who look up to you as a role model?

I would like to say to young runners what my high school coaches Stuart Galloway and Sharon Stewart said to me when I was starting out my running journey, which was: “Believe in yourself, believe in your coaches and believe in your training.” These three components are not mutually exclusive and are huge aspects of great performances. I would also like to reiterate to them what my current coach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison emphasized to me, which is to embrace the day-to-day pursuit of your goals. Successful athletes understand that a good or bad workout in itself is meaningless; they become great by the combination of weeks, months and years of consistent training and racing. I believe that any act that lacks purpose is ultimately fruitless so I would like to remind them why they run even as their reasons for doing so changes and evolves.

Ahmed also said he likes to write out his goals and thoughts before a race, even to write out arguments for any doubts he might have. He says by doing this he can go to the start line with no doubts about the race. It seems to be working.

Like many others I have grown older and slower, but on good days I still like to stretch out, crank up the turnover and pretend I am faster and smoother than I am. The Mo Farahs and the Mohammed Ahmeds of the world keep me inspired and are like coal for my passion of running. And I don’t think I am alone.

Run on Mohammed, keep pushing the limits and inspiring us. And when you drop the hammer again on the homestretch, I hope to be there watching, if only from the edge of my couch.

Mo’s Personal Bests

Indoor 3000m: 7:55.13

Indoor 5000m: 13:40.43

1500m: 3:49.56

5000m: 13:34.23

10,000m: 27:34.64

See you on the roads or in the blogosphere.

Do you have a running story to share with others?

Email me at legsnlungs@hotmail.com