Haftom Welday | My Journey to Los Angeles
My Goals
- 2021: Move to Hamburg – done!
- 2022: Get German citizenship – done!
- 2022: Best running time - in Berlin done!
- 2022: Admission to the national squad – I'm in!
- 2023: World Athletics Championships in Budapest – 15th Place!
- 2024: Run personal best times,
half marathon ✓, 10 km ✓ - 2026: Marathon Personal Best ✓
- 2028: Take part in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles
My Best Results
| Marathon | 2:08:13 | Barcelona, Mar. 15, 2026 |
| Marathon | 2:08:24 | Valencia, Dec. 3, 2023 |
| Halbmarathon | 1:02:47 | Hamburg, Jun. 3, 2024 and Berlin, Aug. 22, 2021 |
| 10 km | 0:29:06 | Manchester, May 24, 2024 |
| 5 km | 0:13:32 | Lausanne, Oct. 2, 2021 |
My Best Results
| Marathon | 2:08:24 | Valencia, 3/12/2023 |
| Halbmarathon | 1:02:47 | Hamburg, 30/4/2024 and Berlin, 22/8/2021 |
| 10 km | 0:29:06 | Manchester, 24/5/2024 |
| 5 km | 0:13:32 | Lausanne, 2/10/2024 |
Fastest German in Berlin
Excerpt from photo © SCC EVENTS / Tilo Wiedensohler
At the 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon, I finished as fastest German (with a time of 2:08:25) – for the second after 2022. After having to drop out in 2024 and 2025 due to injuries, this one felt especially good.
Unfortunately, I also had some health issues during training this time, which meant I missed a few important long runs in my preparation. From kilometer 30 onward, things therefore didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped, but I fought my way through to the finish. The support from the spectators along the course carried me through that difficult stretch — thank you!
Congratulations to my training partners Guye Adole and Gemechu Dida Diriba, who finished first and second. A huge thank-you as well to Race Director Mark Milde and his team for the flawless organization and incredible hospitality that make the Berlin Marathon so unique. I also want to thank my own team for their unwavering support.
That brings my 2026 marathon season to a close. I’m already looking forward to 2027, and I promise you that I’ll work hard to take another big step forward next year.
Los Angeles 2028 remains the goal!
My Journey
My journey has been unusual. As a young person in my old East African homeland of Tigray, I enjoyed playing soccer with my friends. But running? No! I had no desire to do that back then.
In 2014, fleeing war and violence, I left my old home in Tigray. My dangerous trip took me through the Sahara and across the Mediterranean to Europe. I thank God that I survived the journey!
My Journey
My journey has been unusual. As a young person in my old East African homeland of Tigray, I enjoyed playing soccer with my friends. But running? No! I had no desire to do that back then.
In 2014, fleeing war and violence, I left my old home in Tigray. My dangerous trip took me through the Sahara and across the Mediterranean to Europe. I thank God that I survived the journey!
Press
Viva España – Personal Best in Barcelona
Spain suits me well. In mid-March, I set a new marathon personal best of 2:08:13 in Barcelona—eleven seconds faster than December 2023 in Valencia. At the halfway mark in Barcelona, I was even twenty seconds under my half-marathon personal best. I am currently...
Fastest German in Hamburg
It was really nice to run a marathon in my hometown of Hamburg again. At the 30th hella hamburg half marathon on Sunday (June 30th) I was able to match my previous personal record time (1:02:47). As the roads were wet and at times quite slippery, I was very happy with...
An Encouraging Year!
A highlight of the year: in Valencia with my great role model, friend and competitor Kenenisa Bekele I have had a good year. I learned new types of training, worked very hard, took part in a world championship for the first time, made new friends and achievedn a new...