1. The running culture—whether it’s a 200-person fartlek run or a casual group run, you are always surrounded by other motivated athletes. No wonder Iten has produced so many world class runners; it truly is “The Home of Champions.”

2. H.A.T.C.—the latest in greatest in athletic facilities, coaching, strength and conditioning, and residential spaces. Initially founded by 16-time world champion, Lornah Kiplagat, to foster the development of female Kenyan distance runners, the H.A.T.C. now houses a diverse international community united in its commitment to athletics.

3. Friendliest people—the HATC staff are hospitable and helpful, always donning wide smiles and willing to engage in conversation. The Iten townsfolk are friendly to foreigners and eager to beat us in billiards. Although some of the young children do not know too much English, they consistently yell “How are you?” in unison and in a jovial way that we have come to expect.

4. Setting—abundant greenery in every direction. Iten (and the Rift Valley more generally) has beautiful nature to explore and exciting attractions in the area, such as zoos, hiking trails, swamps, and national parks. The weather is hot most of the year but the winter season of June/July alternates between warm and sunny and cool and cloudy.

5. The food—fresh produce in the market means healthy eating every day. Kenyan ugali, beef, bananas, and kale are classic dishes that you can never go wrong with. Also, you can purchase four of the freshest mangos you’ve ever had for 60 shillings (about sixty cents!).

6. Running trails—there are seemingly endless options for running trails. The red dirt will linger on you, staining your clothing and reminding you of that day’s effort. The hills are seemingly everywhere and brutal but help make you a strong, fit runner.

7. Altitude—~8000ft above sea level. A blessing and (initially) a curse. The first 5-10 days of training will require your easy runs to be 60-90 seconds slower per mile. Once your body adjusts to the reduced concentration of oxygen in the air, it will have more red blood cells and better overall cardiovascular ability.

8. Schools—Kiptabus and Kamariny primary schools have been welcoming to us foreigners and easy to work with. We have had many opportunities to work with students, teachers, and administrators and are continuing years-long partnerships to help improve classrooms. We have learned so much from the Kenyans, including a bit of Swahili.

9. Wildlife—although the interns have not been on safari yet, we have already seen giraffes, exotic caterpillars, and long-beaked squawking birds. Also, most families own cows, goats, sheep, and (adorable) dogs. There are even animals that hang out right next to the main roads.

10. Iten Club—an eclectic array of traditional Kenyan and western dishes is available, as well as some of the best WiFi in Iten. The best place to watch World Cup and drink a naturally sweetened Coca-Cola with friends. Stay tuned for the Iten Club shirt, Colin’s first business venture with Lornah Kiplagat.