They could be a secret society, an almost unbeatable clan of focused, single-minded, fanatical runners who, at the 2011 World Championships, won an incredible 17 medals in the middle-distance and long-distance running events.
Unbelievably in 2011, the world’s top twenty fastest runners were all from Kenya. So, just what is the Kenyan runner’s secret, and what is it that makes them so much better than any country in the world?
Running is the most accessible sport in the world, requiring no specialist equipment or knowledge; it’s an activity that almost everyone does at some time, and nearly every child knows the joy of running as fast as they can, the wind in their face, the adrenalin pumping – and perhaps it is here that Kenya’s running success is founded.
Kenya is a very poor country, and nearly every Kenyan runner comes from a rural background where transport is scarce and expensive.
The Kenyan Way
From an early age, Kenyan children run everywhere barefoot. They run miles to school and then back again. They are so used to running long distances that it isn’t questioned; running is just part of their lives which are usually hard. Daniel Komen, the world record holder at 3,000 meters, said in an interview: “Every day I used to milk the cows, run to school, run home for lunch, back to school, home, tend the cows. This is the Kenyan way.”
Running is seen by many Kenyan children as a way out of poverty. High in Kenya’s Rift Valley, there are thousands of aspiring runners living the “Kenyan Way”, training with an intense, almost monastic focus, according to one of Kenya’s top running coaches, Brother Colm O’Connell: “This is the bit people miss when they look for the secret; sheer hard work and dedication, that’s the key.”
Do Kenyans have a Genetic Advantage?
Much has been made of genetics by way of explaining Kenya’s dominant position in long-distance running, but as yet, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that this is the case.
Dr. Yannis Pitsiladis, from the University of Glasgow, who has spent 10 years conducting research into why the Kenyans are so good, believes that a more likely reason is simply that hunger drives Kenyan children to succeed.
He goes on to say: “My daughter is a great gymnast, but she probably won’t become a gymnast. She’ll probably go to university and become a doctor. But for a Kenyan child, walking down to the river to collect water, running to school, if he doesn’t become an athlete, then there are not many other options.”
Kenyan Runners Diet?
So, if there are no genetic explanations, what other factors could be at work here? Well, there’s the fact that Kenyan runners have light and lean bodies and a healthy diet with plenty of vegetables and pulses. But a nutritious diet is needed to train hard by all runners, so this probably isn’t a significant factor in explaining the success of the Kenyans.
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There is evidence, however, to suggest that Kenyan runners are more efficient (often called “running economy”) and thus require less energy to maintain a fast pace.
Altitude Natives
And, of course, these runners are “altitude natives”, living and training at high altitudes, which increases the blood’s ability to carry oxygen (an advantage for long-distance running).
Many of the finest runners come from the hilly region surrounding Eldoret, about 7,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. It’s an area with a pretty mild climate, allowing for year-round running. Even so, the Kenyans are not alone in the altitude stakes; training at altitudes over 2000 meters is possible in Mexico, the Andes, and parts of central Asia, and yet in these locations running has not developed anywhere near as significantly as in Kenya.
How Do Kenyan Runners Train?
Obviously, training plays an important part, and the Kenyan training regimes are notoriously rigorous. The famous (some might say infamous) Kenyan training camps, where athletes live, eat and sleep running for months at a time.
These are privately run, and sometimes this leads to bidding wars for the athletes to attend camps. In part, it’s the sheer quantity of runners that makes Kenya so unique. Competition is fierce amongst the many troops of runners; they spur each other on to greater and greater achievements, and no village is without its star. With so many in the game, there are more stars to rise to the top, and this, in part, accounts for the volume of Kenya’s running successes.
Kalenjin Tribe
Another aspect, and maybe the most important and significant factor, is the nation’s running culture, particularly among the Kalenjin tribe. Kalenjins make up only about 12 percent of Kenya’s population but provide three-quarters of the nation’s elite runners.
The trend started with Kip Keino, who won Olympic gold in the 1,500 meters in 1968 and added an Olympic steeplechase title in 1972. Perhaps this world-famous ex-police man’s success inspired generation after generation of Kalenjins, who grew up revering him almost as a god.
Diet, location, tradition, physiology, and training – all combine to play their part in Kenya’s runaway success. But just what is the secret that makes this society of runners so much better than the rest of the world?
Well, it seems it isn’t a single secret at all but many parts which make the whole.
