Since the 1968 Olympics, men and women from Kenya and Ethiopia have dominated the 26.2-mile marathon. 
Ethiopia’s iconic runner Haile Gebrselassie said “Anything is possible”.
Running indeed paved the road for many African runners to a better life. A combination of a poor childhood, walking many miles to school, lack of perspective, their genes, and strong mentality made many Africans dream and put in the effort to become a champion.

In many African countries basic needs such as clean water and adequate health care are hard to get. Wars and internal conflicts complicates any attempt to improve national health.