Kenya Running Camp January 2023

The camp started with a easy shakeout run and a tour round Iten town with Paul, one of our guides.

Iten is a small but bustling town with a weekly market and a number of sports shops selling elite running kit at discounted prices plus a few small souvenir shops.

 

 

Wednesday morning we took a jog down to the local dirt track and were lucky enough to be able to watch the end of a large group session.  The session was 20 x 400m off a 30 sec recovery.  Once the group had finished we had the chance to run on the track.

 After breakfast, we took a walk through Iten to the viewpoint cafe perched on the edge of the escarpment.  We stopped for a refreshing drink of mango juice and even managed to spot some mongoose chilling out on the rocks.

The afternoon was more relaxed with a stretch and mobility routine and a seminar on physiology and threshold training.

Thursday morning started with an easy run down to the diagonal field to watch a group of elite runners train.  The group is coached by top Kenyan coach John Ewoi and the session was 60 mins of diagonals.  Diagonals are basically strides of about 200m diagonally across the field.

After breakfast, we headed to Edwin’s house to see how a typical kenyan runner lives.  Edwin ran 2:12 at the Nairobi marathon last year and hopes to come to Europe to race this year.  Edwin lives in a small room with an outside toilet and shower but put on a great spread of chapatti and chai for us.

Friday morning we headed out for an easy run before breakfast.

After breakfast, we headed down to the Keiro Valley hotel which has amazing views over the Rift valley.  They are also well known for their pancakes which are a must try.

In the afternoon, we headed to the famous Stazzas hill for hill blasts.  These are short sharp 8 sec hill sprints to work the neuro muscular system to develop speed and power.

Saturday morning was an early start to head to the famous Moiben road for a long run.  The Moiben road is a long undulating road that on a Saturday morning is bustling with groups of runners doing their long run.  After the long run, we headed to a local cafe for a well earned chai and chapatti.

Later that morning, we headed for a look around the bustling market in Iten.

Saturday afternoon was more relaxed finishing with a talk from GB elite runner Ross Braden.

After a busy week, Sunday was a rest from running.

After breakfast, we headed out on a short hike along the edge of the Rift valley and then on to the Kameriny track.

The afternoon was set aside to relax or do a bit of shopping.  We also had the oppotunity to experience a sports massage from Kiprono who works for the Asics camp in Iten.

Monday Morning started with an early run before breakfast.

Later that day, we headed to the famous St Patrick’s school to visit the museum and have a tour of the school.  Many of Iten’s famous runners are past students of the school and they have a very impressive hall of fame.

Tuesday morning was another early start as we headed to Eldoret to the famous Keino Kipchoge stadium.  On a Tuesday morning, you can easy have over 100 athletes thundering around the track all doing difference sessions.  It really is an incredible spectacle and there’s every chance you will spot some famous faces.

We spent some time watching the kenyans train and then jumped on the track to do our first proper session of either 300’s or 400’s.

After the track we headed to the Rupa mall in Eldoret which has a western style supermarket, shops and coffee house.

After a busy day on Tuesday, Wednesday was a more relaxed day.  The day started with an easy 65 mins on the trails followed by some free time for relaxing or shopping.

In the afternoon there was another easy run for those that wanted to followed by a stretch and mobilty session.

In the evening we had another seminar, this time with GB elite Kate Drew.

On Thursday morning, the group had the chance to try the Kenyan diagonals for themselves.

After diagonals, we headed over to watch the famous Iten Fartlek that happens every Thursday morning.  Anything from 50-100 runners gather at 9am for the Fartlek and its a great sight to watch them all thunder past.

In the afternoon, we had the oppotunity to chat to John Ewoi who is one of Kenyas top coaches.  He told us about his own athletics career, how he got in to coaching and an insight into his coaching philosophy.

Friday morning started with an easy run before breakfast.

Later that day, we were invited to visit the Asics camp.  There are 15 athletes living on the camp and they have physio, massage and gym facilities within the camp.

In the afternoon, we headed to Stazzas hill for a drills and hills session.

Saturday morning was the final long run before the camp headed home in the afternoon.

We are planning another trip for January 2024.  Places will be limited and likely to go quickly.  If you would like further information on the camp, please get in contact.