The purpose of this study is to investigate some factors that challenge the performance of longrndistance runners; focusing on Mesfin industrial engineering athletics club and Mesbo cementrnfactory athletics club in the year 2011/12. The method was employed mixed approach ofrnqualitative and quantitative research design with the assumption that it is more appropriate torngather variety of data related to the study. The subjects of this study were 34 long distancernrunners, 2 coaches and one federation secretaries. The respective field selected by usingrnpurposive sampling method. As a method of data gathering tools such as questionnaire werernuses as the main instruments and interview, observation as a complementary instrumentrnassuming to be help full in triangulating the data. To analyze the collected data bothrnqualitative and quantitative methods such as descriptive statements and frequency counts,rnpercentage, the data gathered through these instruments are analyzed using percentage and therninterview made with federation secretary, and the data from the federation secretary recordedrnanalyzed and described in narrated way with the response of athletes and coaches. Thernchallenges that affects the performance of the athlete is also shortage of equipment andrnfacilities, limitation of training place, event specific knowledge of the coaches on longrndistance running. Therefore, the researcher put the following possible recommendations: thernregional athletics federation and national athletics federation must make the necessaryrnarrangements so that the possible gymnasium materials and reference materials will bernsupplied and transcribed and athletes will have access to get it, should up grade coachesrnInternational Association of Athletics Federation coaching level through Coaching Educationrnand Certificate System in order to fill the gap of long distance runners coaches knowledge.rnKey word: gymnasium equipments, training place, reference material andrnperformance of long distance runners