12 Days All-Inclusive Running Camp in Iten

Welcoming of the participant in Eldoret International Airport in afternoon hours. The transfer passes through the city of Eldoret and it takes about 1h15 to reach The Swiss Side, your camp for the coming 12 days. After the first instructions and some time to have a rest, you experience your first run in high altitude. First Evening at the camp.

The acclimatation continues with an easy run of 50 minutes. During the camp, you are always running with a local athlete (male athlete for male participant, female athlete for female participant) who guides you. The pace is light as the oxygen is rare. The hills on the way back to Iten are especially difficult. You end the training with a few strides. In the afternoon, you visit The Olympic Corner. This local workshop produces the famous local bracelets and you can learn how to make such art, or simply make your order for your family and friends. Once back at the camp, you enjoy your first Kenyan massage and experience our unique spa (sauna and ice bath).

As you freshly arrived, nothing crazy that day: a short track session on the mythical Kamariny Stadium. Inaugurated in 1952 by Queen Elizabeth, the clay track will offer you a unique experience.

In the afternoon, we provide you with some Mountain Bikes and a local bike rider to guide you around Iten. On your choice, an easy ride along the Rift Valley, inside the Kenyan countryside until a lake or a forest ride. The Evening is the occasion to play society games with the other athletes staying at The Swiss Side (Uno, Jenga, etc.).

The body starts feeling the training of the past days and you welcome this "easy" day with open arms. The 50 minutes that you will start with a Kenyan group (which will quickly drop you) is the opportunity to realize what makes the local runners so strong. Their determination will stay in your mind, and inspire you once back home. In the afternoon, we can organize on demand a core class to share with local runners before your second massage of the week.

Thursday will be the opportunity to join the Kenyans on their hardest training of the week: the famous Kenyan fartlek. Start at 9:00 AM after 5 km of warm-up, followed by 30 to 40 minutes of 1'/1' or 2'/1' or 3'/1' on a hilly course. If you feel like running easy or following the runners on a motorbike, these are also possible. In the Evening, our chief teaches you how to prepare Kenyan food (chapatis and ugali). A unique cooking workshop that will allow you to cook some local meals for your friends once back home.

Another "easy" day to allow your body to recover. This one will be especially slow and on soft ground, probably in the forest of Kamariny. In the afternoon, you visit a local Foundation (Gathimba Edwards Foundation) that is doing an amazing job in the region of Iten. Their Gathimba village has been entirely built by some volunteers and some of them subscribed following this 12 days running camp. If you appreciate the visit, it will be possible for you to come back to that place in the following days. After the visit, you enjoy some relaxation in the spa, getting used (or not) to the ice bath :-)

That straight line allow runners to train over 30 to 40 kilometers on a perfect tarmac. Depending on your level and objectives, you take part to that procession, followed by our assistance vehicle that gives you some water and take pictures during your run. Once back in Iten, you visit the local market and take the afternoon OFF to rest.

Sunday is the rest day for running. The perfect opportunity to visit Kenya, in particular Lake Baringo, located 2.5 hours from Iten. Once reached, you take part in a unique boat ride, allowing you to spot several bird species, hippos, and crocodiles. Once the other side of the lake is reached, you make a walking safari to visit the Ruko Conservancy, which welcomes several Rothschild's Giraffes. After that experience, you ride back to your starting point, have a well-deserved Lunch, and travel back to Iten.

Monday is the day of the hills. Local runners usually choose a slope or hill and run on it for 40 to 60 minutes. An experience that you experience at your level, for 20 to 30 minutes and at your own speed. This work prepares you for the track session of the following day. In the afternoon, you can join a core class session and spend some time for recovery (massages, sauna, ice bath).

Possibility (for an additional fee) to experience a unique paragliding flight around The Rift Valley. That activity depends on the weather conditions and requires an early booking (72 hours in advance).

Probably the most crowded running facility in the area, and also the best opportunity to meet exceptional athletes such as Eliud Kipchoge, the GOAT himself. We leave The Swiss Side early Morning to reach the place around 7:00 AM, set up your alarm for that experience. In the afternoon, you have the possibility to take a bike again for an easy ride, before visiting The Olympic Corner to pick up your order from the previous week.

rce of champions: The St-Patrick School of Iten. Most of the runners of the area have studied there, and some Olympic and World Champions are alumni of the institution. If luck is on your side, you might meet Brother Colm O'Connell who implemented his vision in the school in 1986, contributing to the development of running, especially toward young ladies in Kenya.

Possibility (for an additional fee) to hike around Iten, in Kessup or Torok Waterfall which are both proposing beautiful sceneries.

Another opportunity to admire the best runners of the world in action. As the camp is ending soon, enjoy every moment of that show. Last Evening at the camp with other participants.

After your last Morning Run in Iten, you are transferred to Eldoret International Airport in good time for your flight.