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Training with the champions in Kenya

A party of Scotch athletes, accompanied by Ms Meg Adem, Teacher-in-Charge of Athletics, and Mr Michael Jones, attended the famous ‘Home of Champions’ training camp at Iten, high (2,400m) in the West Kenyan Rift Valley. The Scotch group was the first school team in the world to visit and train at Iten. Here is an account of the visit by DAMIAN DI DONATO of Year 11.

From landing to leaving Kenya, every day was an experience to be remembered. The multicultural training camp where we spent most of our time attracted running enthusiasts from all over the world.

Shortly after arriving we hit the worn, rocky, dusty roads, where we quickly found that the altitude was not going to be easy to cope with.

We slowly made our way to the track. The scenery of the valley and mountains was beautiful and never ending.

On the way we first saw the supreme ability of the local athletes that we have read about in newspapers and heard about on TV. The typical Kenyan athlete possessed long skinny legs, toned to perfection from the many years of running and training.

Down at the track, local athletes would gather around and discuss a training session that would be suitable for all. Most of the athletes did not have a coach to tell them what to do. Running is like a religion to them, so a coach was not needed. They were all very encouraging to the Scotch boys, asking us to join in with their sessions, though knowing full well that we would not be able to keep up with them. However, they still asked, and were delighted to have us join them.

The Kenyans would spectate from the sides as we trained some days, and at the end of our session they would give us lots of advice and tell stories of great Kenyan athletes.

The trip was a once in a lifetime experience, and boys who are able to go in 2014 will not regret their decision to train with the Champions!

Updated: Monday 24 June 2013