The Journey to Compete, Interview 3, “Embrace the Mud”. Deep Thoughts from Mo Ahmed, Canada’s distance warrior

Mo Ahmed is one of the finest long distance runners in the world. In Doha, Qatar, in 2019, Mo Ahmed took the bronze medal in the 5,000 meters. His medal press conference was glorious, as Mo Ahmed, a pretty quiet person in most situations, just was, well ebullent, hurling a few F bombs here and there, and adding levity to a fun situation.

In Tokyo in 2021, Mo Ahmed took the Olympic silver in the 5,000 meters. I was not there, due to COVID-19. Oh, how I wish I had been there!

Mo Ahmed is the pride of Canada, and was the pride of Madison, Wisconsin while he was a University of Wisconsin Badger. Consider Mo’s PBs: 3:34.89 for the 1,500m, 7:31.96 NR for 3,000m, and a scary 12:47.20 AR for the 5,000m plus 26:34.14 for the 10,000m, again a Canadian NR, in that epic struggle with Grant Fisher at The 10K, that magnifiscent 10,000m race held each year by Sound Running in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

How do I describe Mo Ahmed’s racing style? In the 5,000 meters, Mo Ahmed is most dangerous when the pace goes out fast, as he can handle that mid-race, and when competitors are hoping, no praying that they broke him, the Canadian ace comes back and breaks them over the last 800 meters. Mo Ahmed is a warrior over 12.5 laps. In my opinion, his best event may be the 10,000 meters, but I am not sure he wants to admit that. Mo says that he loves both distances!

Mo Ahmed leaves nothing on the track. If you race this guy, you are in for a battle from the first centimeter to the final meters, followed by gasps of air that bleat out of your wasted lungs. Mo Ahmed will wear you down, and you must be prepared for a titanic struggle. Mo Ahmed does not show up to races unprespared. Mo is always a treat to watch race.

At the time of this interview, Mo Ahmed had to decide if he was going to race in the Canadian Trials for the World Cross Country! on January 10, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida!

Catching up with Mo Ahmed at the NXR Southwest, I asked the great Canadian athlete and former UW Badger, what advice he would provide for the high school cross country runner. This video is all about that!

#nxrsouthwest #inthemixedzone, Mo Ahmed, Canada, Olympic silver medalist, World Champ bronze medalist, 5000 meters. Mo Ahmed is one the most ferocious track warriors over 5,000m-10,000m! We asked Mo for a tip for high schoolers on succeeding in cross country. #NXRSouthwest,… pic.twitter.com/MsMX0gl4US

— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) November 25, 2025

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America’s first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: “I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself.” Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, ” I’m no Angel.”

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