At the entrance to Iten, in Kenya, an arch welcomes everyone who arrives with a simple sentence: Welcome to Iten, Home of Champions. It is no exaggeration. This small town in the Rift Valley, at around 2,400 metres, is home to hundreds of professional runners and the place where many Olympic and world champions were made.
Pedro Queirós, a certified athletics coach with a 2:38 marathon, has done eight altitude training camps in Kenya. That experience is what created the INFINITY Iten Training Camp. In this article we tell you what a day there is like.
6:00 am: wake up
In Iten the day starts early. Before the sun warms up, the red dirt roads are already full of groups of runners. It is one of the most striking images of the town: dozens of athletes running in silence, in single file, at the same pace.
You drink a cup of tea, eat something light and put on your running shoes.
6:30 am: the main session
The morning session is the most important of the day. During the programme you will do different types of training, always adapted to your level:
- Easy continuous runs on dirt roads, at conversation pace, in the first days, so your body can adapt to the altitude.
- Track sessions at the High Altitude Training Centre.
- Kenyan fartlek, with group changes of pace, a local tradition.
- Easy trail runs in the hills around Iten.
- A long run on Moiben Road, one of the most legendary roads for distance runners.
In every session you have a local pacer, a Kenyan runner who runs with you and adjusts to your pace. Running next to people who grew up on these roads is a lesson in humility and technique.
A golden rule: in Iten you start slowly. At 2,400 metres the same pace is much more tiring. The first sessions are easy on purpose.
8:30 am: breakfast and recovery
After training, a big breakfast: porridge, eggs, fruit, bread and plenty of Kenyan tea with milk. Local food is simple and rich in carbohydrates, like ugali, a maize-flour porridge that is the base of the runners' diet.
Then comes the part many amateurs forget: rest. Kenyans sleep, stretch and recover with the same discipline they train with.
At the High Altitude Training Centre, founded by athletics legend Lornah Kiplagat, you have a pool, gym, sauna, massage and physiotherapy to help you recover.
Afternoon: rest, culture and community
Afternoons are for recovering or getting to know life in Iten. During the programme there are some special moments:
- A visit to St. Patrick's High School, the school that produced some of Kenya's greatest runners.
- An afternoon at a Kenyan athlete's home, to see how they live and train every day.
- A free day in the middle of the programme.
Evening: dinner and early to bed
An early dinner, a chat about the day's training and bed before 10 pm. In Iten, sleep is part of training.
What you learn in Iten
More than kilometres, a training camp in Iten teaches you a way of thinking about running:
- Consistency over intensity. Kenyans run a lot, but most of their sessions are easy.
- Running in a group pushes you. Nobody trains alone in Iten.
- Simplicity. Good food, good rest and well-done training.
- Humility. You will cross paths with champions who train on the same roads as you. Eliud Kipchoge, for example, trains in the region.
The INFINITY Iten Training Camp
2027 dates
31 July – 14 August14 – 28 August28 August – 11 September
What is included
- Full-board accommodation at the High Altitude Training Centre
- Training programme with Pedro
- Local pacers
- Massage and laundry
- Cultural experiences
- Transfers
- Visa and travel insurance
What is not included
- Flights (Europe–Nairobi and Nairobi–Eldoret)
- Tips
- Running gear
- Personal expenses
Optional: safari in Nakuru, an extra week and a single room. Families and children are welcome, and 3% of the trip price supports local communities in Iten, in a project chosen by the group.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be a fast runner?
No. The camp is for all levels. The sessions and the pacers adapt to you.
Is the altitude a problem?
Iten's 2,400 metres require adaptation, but they rarely cause altitude sickness. That is why the first days are easy.
How do I get to Iten?
An international flight to Nairobi and a domestic flight to Eldoret. From there, the transfer is included.
Pedro Queirós is the founder of INFINITY and Dreams of Kathmandu. In 2022 he became the sixth Portuguese to climb Everest, and in 2025 he ran 100 marathons in 100 days. He leads the INFINITY expeditions to Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro and Iten.
INFINITY · Iten Training Camp
Want to train where the champions train?
Train with me for 15 days in Iten, Kenya, at 2,400 m: a personal pacer, the High Altitude Training Centre and the local culture.
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