Iten located in the Rift Valley is a town with settlements scattered around the mountainous countryside. The town is also referred to as the capital of Kenyan athletes who have dominated the world athletics scene.
In 2020, the town which is the capital of Elgeyo Marakwet County was awarded a Heritage Plaque by World Athletics.
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Between June and September each year, athletes head to train in Iten due to its extremely cool and favourable climate.
Its unique temperature level contributes a lot to an athlete's training and success.
Just like other higher altitude areas, Iten's air is "thinner" meaning there are fewer oxygen molecules per volume of air. Every breath taken at a high altitude delivers less of what working muscles require.
Iten's altitude is 2,400 metres, making it very favourable for extensive training, one of the most perfect locations in the world for any athlete.
The coldest months are between June and July where the temperatures fall between 9 degrees Celsius and 12 degrees Celsius.
According to Peter Mathu, Kenya’s head coach for the 2011 World Championships, athletes who train in high altitude areas tend to perform better because they have built endurance.
Some of the international athletes to train at Iten include Britain's top racers Paula Radcliffe and Mohamed ‘Mo’ Farah.
Among the many successful athletes Letting has trained are current Olympic 800-metre gold medallist Emmanuel Korir, and current 1,500-metre Olympic silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot.
Iten has come to be the home of Kenyan Athletes such as Wilson Kipsang, Abel Kirui, David Rudisha, Florence Kiplagat, Edna Kiplagat, Mary Keitany and, Asbel Kiprop among others.
There are various training camps with the most common being the High Altitude Training Centre. The centre was established in 1999 by the former World Champion Lornah Kiplagat and it has well-furnished rooms, a communal dining room, and modern training equipment.
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