I'm so happy to have done this, and now I can say I ran the New York City Marathon.
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 said to myself, 'I don't want to be coming sixth or seventh, and being the best in Britain. I want to be the best in the world and race against these Kenyan guys.'
I was a runner, a failed quarterback, third-string quarterback, but in track I was a 2-miler.
If you want to be a successful runner, you have to consider everything. It's no good just thinking about endurance and not to develop fine speed.
No doubt a brain and some shoes are essential for marathon success, although if it comes down to a choice, pick the shoes. More people finish marathons with no brains than with no shoes.
I'm the first from Ethiopia getting 1500-meter world record; that is amazing.
Plenty of people who are 38 have run really well in the marathon.
I've had a lot of success over the years racing in New York, but the main point is that I feel the marathon is a different event, a lot more my event.
Since I achieved something, running has exploded in my country.
