My name is Constant WIEDERKEHR, I am 24 years old and I have been running on the road and trail for about 4 years. At the end of last year, I decided to book my running camp in Kenya, the Mecca of running. For several years, I have been interested in how locals and international athletes train there.
I flew to Iten at the beginning of January 2024 and settled down at the Run'ix Athletic Center. The choice of the centre was made for several reasons: first, it is where most of the francophone or French athletes I know go. Secondly, they provide all the necessary explanations about the organization of the trip (booking the plane, transfer to the airport, VISA...). Thirdly, I find the perfect balance between living in a group (meals, training places, etc.) and maintaining a certain freedom (you are free to go where you want, to train as you want, etc.).
Experiment:
As soon as I arrived at the Run'ix Athletic Center, I was immersed in the atmosphere that reigns in Iten. You feel both a working atmosphere with everyone training hard, but also a serenity rarely experienced in Europe. The first few days were spent getting to know the place and the other camp-mates. The tone was set for most of the training days: we did our session in the morning, had time to go about our business and rest during the day, before going back for a run at the end of the day. Among the interns, I met elite athletes and amateurs. Despite the differences in level, we all lived together, shared meals and some training! For example, we took advantage of afternoon jogs or trips to training sites to meet up. I also had the support of Nickson, a runner working at the camp, as a guide, and I participated in group training with the Kenyans. Beyond the sporting aspect, training with the best runners in the world, early in the morning thousands of miles from home, is an incredible experience.
Training:
In Kenya, most runners follow the following weekly training structure:
- Monday: easy jogging
- Tuesday: short VMA (fartlek or track)
- Wednesday: easy jogging
- Thursday: long VMA (fartlek or track)
- Friday: easy jogging
- Saturday: long outing
- Sunday: rest or easy jogging
Once the acclimatization period is over, you feel that the Kenyan way of life is conducive to training. With people always training, it's easy to motivate yourself, and daily rest times allow you to take on more volume. You still have to be careful, because the altitude makes training difficult (at 2400m, there is less oxygen, so you have to adapt the paces), the roads are never flat, and there are always "over-motivated" runners who get carried away because they are in Kenya. In full preparation for a 10 km/half marathon over 8 weeks, I was running about 130-140 km with an elevation gain of 1000-1500m. In Kenya, the sessions AND the jogging sessions are difficult, but that's precisely what we come here for. Despite this, the riders are extremely relaxed compared to Europe.
Teachings:
Community:
One of the greatest riches of this internship was the community life. Being around international athletes and local runners has made me evolve a lot. Each exchange made me question the way I approached my lifestyle, my training and my competitions.
Training:
The training I did in Kenya, combined with the conditions (altitude, elevation, favourable climate), allowed me to surpass myself and I felt that I improved as the weeks went by. I probably could have done a little less because I came back a bit tired but I know that this internship will pay off!
Mindset:
In Kenya, runners are still determined to train. They reminded me to focus on your own progress and always believe in it. When we see the way of life of Kenyans and the little comfort they have, we really realize that we have nothing to complain about in France! I hope I can remember it at home.
The Importance of Rest:
Finally, the internship reminded me of the importance of rest (sleep, diet, etc.) in his training. In such a demanding environment, it is essential to give my body the time it needs to recover and regenerate. You also have to listen to your body and know how to take your foot off the gas during certain sessions if you want to make lasting progress.
CONCLUSION
This camp was an incredible experience in every way: the training, the group life, the Kenyan culture. The lessons I learned will stay with me for a long time, and I came home with a new motivation. Thank you to the Run'ix Athletic Center for your welcome!
