In the early morning light of Iten, Kenya, groups of runners hit the scenic dirt paths, often accompanied by smiling school children on their way to class. Some of these runners are elite athletes, while others have traveled from distant lands. They are drawn to Iten because this modest town, sitting at about 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) above sea level, is famed for producing some of the world’s greatest long-distance runners.
To accommodate the influx of both professional and amateur athletes, a growing number of hotels, lodges, and short-term rental apartments have emerged in the area, located 350 kilometers (217 miles) northwest of Nairobi. Ryan Mex, a semi-professional runner and coach from Malta, is among those captivated by the town. Visiting Kenya for the first time with three athletes from his training group to prepare for Malta’s marathon season, Mex said, “I wanted to experience the elite running community here. I plan to return with an even larger group next time. This is the ultimate destination for a training camp.”
Iten, a bustling town of 42,000 mainly subsistence farmers, has hosted numerous world champions. Esteemed runners such as Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic marathon gold medalist, and David Rudisha, a two-time Olympic champion in the 800 meters, have trained here. Even Britain’s four-time Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah spent extensive periods training in Iten. In 2019, the town was honored as a World Athletics Heritage Landmark, earning the nickname “Home of Champions.”
Lornah Kiplagat, who competed in three Olympic Games for the Netherlands, spent her high school years in Iten and now operates a training center there for runners looking to improve. “Training at 2,400 meters expands your lungs and increases red blood cells, making you feel like you’re flying at lower altitudes,” explained Kiplagat, a 2008 world half-marathon champion. German marathoner Amanal Petros spends half the year at Kiplagat’s center, drawn not only by the altitude but also by the vibrant community of athletes willing to train with him.
Jean Paul Fourier, who established the Kerio View Hotel in 2002 with only a few rooms, now hosts up to 50 guests and features a fitness center. “I started with a modest investment and it has really thrived,” he remarked. The key season spans from April to September, drawing numerous foreign visitors to his hotel as well as others in the vicinity.
But Iten wasn’t always bustling with athletic activity. Brother Colm O’Connell, a former headmaster at St. Patrick’s High School, remembers the town in its earlier days when it consisted of a handful of houses and the school. He arrived to teach in 1976 and remarked, “That was really the origin of what Iten has become today.” The transformation began with the professionalization of athletics, allowing athletes to pursue full-time careers rather than juggle sports with other jobs.
O’Connell’s influence led to a successful athletics program at St. Patrick’s, producing 25 world champions. Today, according to O’Connell, there can be about 500 visiting athletes during peak season. “We see a variety of runners, from those aiming for personal bests to those fundraising through marathons,” he said. In Iten, running is truly a sport for everyone, offering something unique to each participant.
