Iten update!
- Stazza
- Feb 6, 2018
- 3 min read

So it’s Tuesday and Tuesday means track workouts down at Tambach…
This morning, we headed off with a full car. We snaked down the 1000ft or so to Tambach, taking in the stunning views of the Rift Valley: a thin coat of morning mist canopied the life below, while the early morning sun got to work and went about its business.
When we arrived at the track, we were greeted with the usual treat of over 100 elite Kenyans midway through and banging out incredible workouts. The red dust from the track swirled in the light breeze, while the soft crunch of spikes on cinders and the heavy pants of runners set the background music for the morning.
Ben and Ezra set about their warm up, while John and Aoife took a moment to soak in the overwhelming sight of Tambach Track at 7:30 on a Tuesday morning. Moses strolled around with the Stablemaster’s secret diary secure under his arm, looking like an experienced Assistant Coach.
Soon enough, Aoife set off around the track and started dropping out laps. The lads finished off their strides and I gave them final instructions on the workout. (The workout: 2x(10x400m off 200m jog) 400m jog between sets). The idea was that Ezra would help Ben find his rhythm during the first five or so 400s and then go on and pick up the pace slightly; Ben was aiming for 72s (15 min pace for 5000m).
The first five reps passed off without incident and Ben quickly found his rhythm, dropping out 72s and 71s, looking at home down on the Tambach dust bowl. After five reps, Ezra pressed on a tad and dropped out 66s-68s, without any bother. And while the organised chaos took place on the track, quietly, Aoife found her ultra rhythm and glided around the track like she’d been there all her life.
The session went on without any problems. Ben finished off averaging about 71s and a final 400 in 67. Top job. Serious workout at this altitude, in the heat too.
When the dust settled, we all jumped back in the car (clattered in the red cinders) and made our way back up to Iten, where we breakfasted on giant mandazi, coffee, mixed chi, and water at the Champions Inn.
And now, while I’m typing this in Lorna’s High Altitude Centre, my children are sleeping—nicely. We have WiFi at The Stable HQ but I fancied a little bit of tip-tapping time, sitting in the sunshine.
It was nice to see Ezra jumping in with Ben and helping him out (encapsulates the Stable ethos). Ben is flourishing here: getting out to run everyday with the elites from the Stazza’s Stable Arete Scholarship Program is really bringing him on.
Already, since launching the Arete Scholarship Website and fundraising campaign on Sunday, we've raised over $600, which effectively feeds and houses our first two lads for about 4 months. We have three more young men waiting to jump on board and two young women but we’re just waiting to see how the fundraising goes…
As well as the Kenyan lads fulfilling their potential, we’re hoping to bring over a few Stablemates (at seriously subsidised rates: these will be the younger runners) so that they can benefit from training alongside our Arete Elites.
The Stazza’s Stable Headquarters has received a full lick of paint and is looking better daily as Sally improves things. Sally’s currently improving the Stazza’s Stable Arete Camp, so the lads can move in. And on the same plot where the Stazza’s Stable HQ sits, Sally’s building 8 more rooms to accommodate Stablemates, a small dining/takeaway area, and a communal shower block. The place is busy and we’re getting things done.
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