The Running Tribe…

I’ve been scanning the sports sections of the Kenyan Dailies and have noticed just how thoroughly the Kalenjin runners are dominating world running competitions. It’s not even close; And every year, a new crop of world class runners emerges from the hills of Eldoret and Baringo. It’s actually quite amusing because every marathon year I have to listen to American commentators talk about how much better the American runners have become and how this year they’re really going to “catch up with the Kenyans”. Then you look at the results and it’s a new crop of Kalenjins! That’s when they placed a quota on the number of Kenyans who could run in these marathons.

Some scientists have started studying the Kalenjin and they are coming up with interesting data. According to these scientists: “The Kalenjin evince uncommon trainability – i.e. the capacity to increase aerobic ability with training; a trait that is largely thought to be hereditary. Why? they have lived at altitudes of above 2,000 feet for centuries, they spent their days{at least traditionally} chasing cattle up and down steep hills and it would not be unreasonable to think that some kind of genetic adaptation has taken place {from these activities}that has turned out to be helpful in competitive long-distance running“. You can read more about this study here ( Run Kipchoge, Run!)

I can think of other tribes in Kenya who have similar lifestyles and/or body builds, but who do not dominate long-distance running like the Kalenjin. What about the Maasai? they don’t live in high-altitude places, but they’re tall and lean, they walk long-distances with their cattle, but they don’t run like Kipchoge. Who else? The Turkana, the Samburu, Pokots?

Are there any Kalenjins out here who can tell us “the secret”? What the heck are you people eating?

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