ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Ethiopian long-distance great Haile Gebrselassie has changed his mind about retiring and will compete again.

"Running is in my blood and I decided to continue competing," Gebrselassie said on his Twitter account Monday.

The 37-year-old runner had announced his sudden retirement after pulling out of the New York Marathon on Nov. 7 with 16 kilometers (10 miles) to go because of a knee injury. But he immediately began reassessing the decision.

"My announcement in New York was my first reaction after a disappointing race," Gebrselassie said on Twitter. "When my knee is better again I will start focussing on my next race."

His manager, Jos Hermens, told The Associated Press last week that Gebrselassie was in an emotional state when he made the surprise announcement in New York.

His coach, Woldemeskel Kostre, said in French sports daily L'Equipe that Gebrselassie could now compete "until he's 45."

Gebrselassie won two Olympic 10,000-meter gold medals, four outdoor world titles and set the marathon world record of 2 hours, 3 minutes, 59 seconds in Berlin in 2008.

He has said he wants to compete through the 2012 London Olympics.

Gebrselassie skipped the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics for fear that pollution would affect his running. He ran the 10,000 meters instead and finished sixth.

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