" When I had no shoes I was comfortable – I used to run barefoot. When I wore shoes it was difficult. To run in shoes was ok, but at the beginning of my career it was hard. "
- Haile Gebrselassie

In the quote, Haile Gebrselassie reflects on his early experiences with running shoes. He describes how he was initially more comfortable and agile when running barefoot compared to wearing shoes at the beginning of his career. This suggests that shoes introduced new challenges and difficulties for him, even though they were eventually necessary as his athletic career progressed.

On a deeper level, Gebrselassie's statement highlights the idea that sometimes the familiar ways of doing things can be more comfortable than embracing change or adapting to new tools and technologies. The transition from barefoot running to wearing shoes represents an adjustment period filled with challenges and discomfort before becoming natural and beneficial. This quote encourages athletes and individuals in various fields to embrace the initial difficulties associated with innovation and adaptation, recognizing that such changes often lead to long-term growth and success.

Haile Gebrselassie is a renowned Ethiopian long-distance runner who has won numerous Olympic medals and held multiple world records throughout his career. His reflections on running barefoot versus wearing shoes offer insight into his personal journey as an athlete and the broader theme of adapting to new circumstances in sports and life.