KENYA EXPERIENCE - DAY 2 - What does a Kenyan Fartlek session look like and adapting to altitude.

[@ellemarie9726]

Your comment about how hilly and difficult the course was reminded me of Helen Obiri's performance at the 2019 World Cross Country champs. That course was a muddy, hilly mess, and she absolutely attacked each and every hill; it was insane (and awesome!) to watch. I wonder how much training she does on courses like the one here. Thanks for the video and insights. Training like this is , I'm sure, a contributor to Kenya's long-time success on the World XC stage (and other world running/athletics stages). Of course, being incredibly gifted athletes also helps!

[@richardrankin7488]

I am really loving this. Will be sorry when the series ends. Thank you!

[@DevRunner]

This is so inspiring and motivating! Nothing like running and talking with like-minded people! Thank you for sharing!

[@nilSpecial]

These series is amazing! Really makes me want to go there! Thanks for sharing this experience with us, Matt!

[@davidmellor5605]

Looks super cool that trip! What an experience. Great to see all standards of runner aswell

[@sotimak6554]

this is just some amazing Iten commercial that makes even an absolute beginner like me wanna go there and experience this 😅

[@TheWelshRunner]

I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I truly think all levels of runner would absolutely love training in Iten. It is amazing and I never realised how accessible it actually is.

[@tonyrabone4668]

Just read "Running with the Kenyans" and then found this video series. Really nice experience. Thx.

[@Nonixification]

This is so epic, Matt! One day I have to visit that place.

[@timshearn8203]

Brilliant stuff Matt, really enjoying this series. The trip looks awesome 👌.

[@ericpetersen8645]

The bike shots of the front group with the music choice were epic.

[@TheWelshRunner]

Thanks. I really appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed.

[@justalilbester]

Very cool!! Amazing how many Kenyans turn up to the Fartlek sesh! Also interesting to note they do it on a hilly route! I’m changing my tempo sessions from Battersea to Richmond 😂 epic video 🙌🏻

[@michaelwhiting5141]

Love this, Matt - thanks so much. Thought the reflections in the middle of the video were a great touch.

[@TheWelshRunner]

Thanks Michael. Glad you liked the video and the format. 👍

[@jamesscott5534]

Good to see the Kenya trip and new content on the channel . Hope you’re all doing ok after the covid interrupted Christmas . Your content has been massively missed. #allin for your new training block 💪

[@TheWelshRunner]

Thanks James. I hope you enjoy the series. Following this series is my marathon block for the Spring, so I hope you enjoy that too. I really appreciate the support 👊. Hope your running is going well.

[@momoben9899]

Bravo a tous

[@lukegoesrunning6775]

Loving these vlogs! Excited to watch the rest 🙌

[@rubenezquerro9195]

Thanks for sharing Matt. You are like “ a kid in a candy store “, and I can relate. Love how running is part of Kenyans lifestyle. You are looking good, keep it up. 👍

[@TheWelshRunner]

I really was. I loved it. I’m a huge running geek and this was an incredible trip and insight into the Kenyan running culture.

[@patricksmit8887]

thx for transferring the "magic", btw the impact on HRV was huge, will check mine again if I go up in the alps to see whether it does something "spectaculair" like that too

[@TheWelshRunner]

Thanks for watching and I’m glad you enjoyed the vlog. The HRV was remarkable.

[@TheFODRunner]

Epic stuff mate, can’t wait to pick your brains in this stuff more!!

[@Steve1966A]

Am loving these videos. I'm booked onto the March camp and this is getting me really excited. Cheers 👍

[@RunningTrips]

Can’t wait for March 😀😀

[@galinabaglayeva6344]

Could you pls share the link of the camp?

[@crayontom9687]

Great stuff, looks an amazing experience. The rocky ground and altitude must make road racing at sea level feel like a breeze!

[@TheWelshRunner]

Thanks. Yeah, sea level and a good surface is such a huge difference. They do some of their runs (longer marathon type runs) on the road but altitude is tough.

[@lifeinblackshort]

I absolutely love this this 👍

[@kophotography895]

Loving the Series.... Keep em coming Matt.... Very motivating...

[@TheWelshRunner]

Thanks. Glad you’re enjoying.

[@jonathanwatkins447]

Great video. Awesome you did this. Can't wait for more videos. We'll done and thanks

[@TheWelshRunner]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the kind feedback. Plenty more to come including 2 current Marathon World Record Holders.

[@uras1]

Surprised to see such rocky road. Most stuff i've watched the roads are a tad better. Would be an amazing experience to spend some time there.

[@TheWelshRunner]

This surprised me too. This Thursday Fartlek is always on this course and it was certainly not what I was expecting. They have some trails that are slightly better but everywhere in Iten seems to be pretty hilly. They also have some roads they use. Moiben is a road they sometimes travel to to do long runs as they can run a bit quicker as it’s a road and a slightly lower altitude.

[@michaelr.8402]

thanks for the interesting video - greets from berlin 🏃‍♂️🙂

[@TheWelshRunner]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed. Hope things are good in Berlin and your running is going well.

[@michaelr.8402]

@@TheWelshRunner thanks👍

[@rickers500]

Thks for the video and insight into the training camp! Always fancied doing something like this after "finding" running a few years back. Can't wait till the next episode. Thks!

[@toddboucher3302]

What an awesome opportunity congrats

[@TheWelshRunner]

Thanks Todd. I hope you enjoy the series.

[@runningwithdr.andrewdpt9177]

Great video!! It would be awesome to run there.

[@kimhaig99]

Loving this Matt! Great footage and love how involved everyone is!

[@voicefm1369]

Running on a rocky surface is good. It massages your feet and won't allow you to run on flat foot too.

[@oldman9154]

You look great. Thanks for sharing. .

[@TheWelshRunner]

Thanks Mike. Hope you’re running well 👊👍

[@oldman9154]

Just started back after two shoulder surgery going slow .lol.

[@jamielewis4087]

Great video !! 17 x 2 minutes think I will do that as a session . On the flat though 😉.

[@transformational_runners]

Loving these videos!

[@JonsConsciousLife]

Good stuff Matt!

[@TheWelshRunner]

Thanks Jon. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@jacobvandermeulen1970]

"Hugo" is Hugo van den Broeck, a Dutchman who emigrated to Kenya, a former 2:11, 2:12 marathoner, must be 45 - 50 years old by now.

[@TheWelshRunner]

Spot on. Hugo is a 2:12 Dutch marathoner and a great coach that now lives in Kenya. He is full of knowledge and a great guy to sit down and chat with.

[@Ian-H76]

Would love to know what shoes you were wearing for each session Mate! Great vlog

[@McCourtRuns]

Great video, Kenya looking beautiful as ever, how many how are yous did you get?

[@userten4340]

11:56 When are going to start talking about mental techniques?

[@markg99]

Throwing in a random "chin wag" there, Matt 😄 It's weird when you throw in a phrase you've never used before, on camera lol. I came out with an unexpected "yada yada yada" one time. No idea where it came from 😂👍🏻🏃‍♂️

[@austinrpt]

Enocks got a motorbike now !?

[@RunningTrips]

Just rented during the camp! Saves his legs trying to get to the next photo location 😀

[@igoroner]

Great content! Cheers from Moscow, Russia.

[@TheWelshRunner]

Awesome, thank you! Glad you enjoyed.

[@SebastianLass]

Hi Matt, would you like to share which watchface you use on your Forerunner (shown in the video)? Thx mate.

[@LoveTheRunTV]

Really interesting videos...thanks for them. What kind of pace is the 1min "jog" during the fartlek session?

[@markcameron3]

Crazy to think that probably most of them Kenyans could beat the best of the best from the Western world. Would have loved to see you do a parkrun over there against them, 15 mins is probably normal for them

[@TheWelshRunner]

Yeah the sheer amount of incredible runners in Iten is amazing. They don’t have parkrun but I’d guess most of the guys would break 15 comfortably even at altitude and on a hilly course. I think this showed in the Fartlek where nearly all the men got away from me very early and most of the Women also passed me at some stage.

[@dokutaaguriin]

Those roads must break down their shoes so quickly

[@ksgrmdsdl2383]

13:28 The kenyans have very long legs and lean bodies. It is like they were built for marathon. That is why these other white guys running beside them are no match when it comes to world championships.

[@Karlm01]

There diet is much better than of people in Europe and USA

[@TheWelshRunner]

There are plenty of Kenyan runners with long legs but there are also many successful Kenyan runners that do not have long legs. There are a range of different heights and leg length. I would agree that all of the top runners are very lean.

[@TheWelshRunner]

The diets of the runners I spoke with were very simple and carb heavy. Definitely a healthier diet to my diet back home which is full of snacks etc.

[@sotimak6554]

they make everyone else look quite bulky to say the least 😁

[@JackD87]

What’s HRV?

[@i.p2088]

Very interesting. I grew up in Kenya.. How did you arrange the visit?

[@TheWelshRunner]

Nice. Where did you grow up? The trip was organised by a company called runningtrips.co.uk as part of their Kenya Experience camp. I was gifted the trip as part of their marketing but all the views are my own. I loved it. They have a few camps a year.

[@i.p2088]

@@TheWelshRunner I grew up in Nairobi. Left when I was 14.. 40 years ago..

[@davidfox7983]

It's a pity Kenyan Athletics so tarnished now over drug cheats

[@senseiquickbooks4588]

Imagine a kenyan iten mob chasing pickpocket.. lol thats scary

[@timothycurrie7662]

It's too bad you are doing the "kenyan experience" with the other hobby joggers. All the money goes to the rich Dutch who are taking over Iten. You should have stayed in a dollar a day hotel run by Kenyans and given back to the community. SMH!

[@RunningTrips]

Hi Timothy, Thanks for your comment. We organise the Kenya Experience camp Matt was on and we are neither Dutch nor rich. We do use the HATC accommodation (part Dutch owned) to host our groups so perhaps that is where your confusion has arisen. You are correct that low cost accommodation also exists in Iten and it is great that people have a range of options to choose from depending on their preferences. I presume you use ‘hobby jogger’ as an insult, but we are proud to look after and support runners of all abilities so thank you for recognising that all runners are welcome in Iten not only fast runners. As for local community support, we provide highly skilled well paid full time work for local people, and you can also check out Gathimba Edwards for more detail of how we work with the local community. Thanks again for commenting but I believe you are misinformed on some issues in this circumstance.