Sports
Train at 2,400 m on the red roads shared by Olympic champions, with Kenyan coaches, physio and recovery.
Why do it in Kenya
Iten sits at about 2,400 m (7,900 ft) on the edge of the Kerio Valley escarpment, and the arch at the entrance to town calls it the Home of Champions. World Athletics has honored Iten with a Heritage Plaque as a landmark of the sport. Generations of Olympic and world champions trained on its dirt roads, many of them at St Patrick's High School, where Irish missionary Brother Colm O'Connell began coaching in the 1970s. Running here means joining the groups that leave town at dawn and seeing a whole community organize its day around training.
A typical day
The day starts around six with an easy or long run on red murram roads as the sun comes up over the valley. Breakfast, rest and a nap follow, as they do for the Kenyan athletes around you. Late morning or afternoon brings a second session, which might be fartlek through the forest, hill repeats, drills or a workout on the dirt track at Kamariny Stadium. Afternoons leave time for physio, massage, strength work and a cup of chai. Evenings are early, and the town is quiet by nine.
Altitude and fitness
At 2,400 m there is noticeably less oxygen than at sea level, and your first days will feel hard even on easy runs. Cut volume and pace for the first several days and build gradually. Sleep, hydration and iron-rich food matter. If you have heart, lung or blood conditions, or are pregnant, talk to your doctor before booking. The equatorial sun burns fast at altitude. You will get more from a camp if you can already run 30 minutes comfortably, whatever your pace.
Where and when
Iten is in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, about 35 km from Eldoret, which has scheduled flights from Nairobi. June to September is usually dry and cool, and suits runners building for fall marathons. December to February is also usually dry and popular with athletes preparing for spring races. The long rains usually fall around April and May, when roads get muddy but training carries on. Kenyan athletes travel to races abroad, so the elite groups in town change through the year.
Combine it with
After a camp, your legs will welcome a few days in a safari vehicle. Lake Bogoria and Lake Baringo are a scenic drive down through the Rift Valley, and Kakamega Forest, with its birds and monkeys, is a few hours west. Fly from Eldoret to Nairobi and on to the Maasai Mara for a recovery safari, or to the coast for beach time at Diani. Some runners time a camp to finish just before the Nairobi Marathon in October.
Plan it with us
Kenya Experience is Kenyan-led, with two U.S. companies behind it, and our camps use Kenyan coaches, physios and guides. Bring your club or come on your own, and pay in full or monthly with no deposit. A specialist replies within two business days.
Iten has produced more distance medals than any town on earth. Camps run from a week to a month: long runs, fartlek in the forest, track sessions, strength work and the chance to run alongside the best.
Good to know
- Best timeJune to September.
- Duration7–28 days.
- Group6–20.
- PaceActive.
Your questions
What is the altitude of Iten?
About 2,400 m (7,900 ft), on the edge of the Kerio Valley in Kenya's western highlands.
Why is Iten called the Home of Champions?
Iten and the surrounding area have produced an extraordinary number of Olympic and world champions in distance running. World Athletics has recognized the town with a Heritage Plaque, and the name is on the arch as you enter.
How long does it take to adjust to altitude in Iten?
Most runners feel the altitude most in the first several days and adapt over one to three weeks. Keep runs easy at first and build gradually.
How do I get to Iten from Nairobi?
Fly to Eldoret, about an hour, then drive roughly 45 minutes to Iten. Driving all the way from Nairobi takes most of a day.
When is the best time to train in Iten?
June to September and December to February are usually the driest months. Training goes on year-round, including through the long rains around April and May.
Panga
Plan your Running in Iten trip
Panga means plan. Tell us who is going and what you love. A Kenya specialist replies within two business days.
