Finding Your Tribe: Charlotte’s Kenya Experience

They say running is a solitary sport, but anyone who has ever felt they don’t quite fit in knows that the right community can change everything.

When Charlotte left the North of England for the high-altitude trails of Kenya, she was looking for sunshine and legendary athletes. What she found, however, was far more valuable: a ‘tribe’ of like-minded souls from every corner of the globe. From singing Bieber on the Kenyan hills with her training partner to sharing stories with runners from Switzerland to America, this is a story about the bridges we build when we stop running away and start running together.

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I found My Tribe in Kenya

I’ve always felt like a square peg in a round hole; I’ve never quite fitted in. Running has always been my escape, my therapy and my happy place.

So, when I stumbled across the Kenya Experience after googling running holidays, I was captivated for a variety of reasons:

1. I love Kipchoge and any chance of meeting this legend in lycra would be worth it.
2. I adore Faith Kipyegon; she continues to inspire me to go the extra mile.
3. I live in the North of England where it’s permanently wet and the sun refuses to shine (honestly, I’m not exaggerating). A little sun goes along way and surely, I’d get some sunshine in Africa?
4. The mangoes are apparently the best in world (I had to try some).
5. Apparently, running at altitude can offer some gains!

After harassing Callum over email and asking him a range of random questions (this man has the patience of a saint), I finally decided to book it. 

At the time of booking it, I was 20 and a little daunted about travelling on my own to a developing country. As my mum constantly tells people I’m ‘a bit of a princess’. My toilet roll has got to be four ply and my pillows are required to be a certain thickness. Generally speaking, I can be a bit of a diva! Therefore, I recognised it was going to be a culture shock – but I do enjoy a challenge!

But the thing that irritated me the most was that my ex-boyfriend (who’d been to Tanzania ONCE) told me ‘Charlotte, you won’t cope, you’ll hate it!’

And the thing most people know about me is that I love proving people wrong.

So, in the words of Shakira: ‘it’s time for Africa.’

I had numerous injections: Hepatitis B, Rabies, Yellow Fever. I got my Malaria tablets from Superdrug, along with a basket full of bug spray. 

And the day finally arrived…

But as with most things in my life, things are rarely straight forward. People often accuse me of loving drama, but the truth is that drama loves me!

The ex-boyfriend got back in touch giving me a flicker of hope and then swiftly burned me with bitchy comments and ghosted me. Great bloody timing! So, as a result, London Heathrow Airport witnessed a teary wreck of a woman. The January skies of London mirrored my mood.

But a 10-hour plane flight transported me to another world: Nairobi. I checked into a lovely hotel at 11pm, after Edmund (a lovely taxi driver) dropped me at my hotel. A fluffy robe, Thai green chicken curry and those cool hotel slippers brought me the comfort that I needed before I would continue my journey to Eldoret.

The following day I got to experience a fun flight from Nairobi to Eldoret but it just couldn’t get the Penguins of Madagascar out of my head. The chuga, chuga of the mini propellers made me question all my life choices. 

Being greeted at the airport by one of the Kenya Experience team was wonderful: a radiant smile and positive energy made me realise that this was going to be a great experience. The blue sky lifted my heart and meeting Mette, another like-minded runner, in the taxi made me realise that all the other runners would love this sport just as much as me.

What followed was the most epic two weeks of my life. I’ve been to Font Romeu, Flagstaff and done warm weather training in the Algarve, but Kenya topped it all.

The pacers were the most delightful people I’ve ever met. My training partner, Mercy, and I clicked from the start. We shared stories, playlists, tips and we gelled. Together, on our long runs, we performed the entire Justin Bieber album. Suddenly, with Mercy, the Kenyan hills felt a little less steep.

And the food was good; I got used to the beany meals, devoured Kenyan tea and ate my body weight in mangoes! The chefs prepared the mangoes and pineapples for me once I’d bought them in town. 

But the running… THE RUNNING. I just loved the running. Running with the pacers was inspiring. The effortless movement of the Kenyans inspired me to move better. Running track with these talented athletes has taught me so much. I refined my drills, developed a little more tenacity and learned so much from Coach Willy and Coach Richard.

Alongside the coaches, I met so many wonderful people. Toni, the photographer, took the most beautiful pictures: I’ve had a canvas made. And I met Emmauel, a pacer, who is setting up a charity to coach young children to help them escape poverty through running. I visited two Kenyan schools and went on safari too. 

Worries, anxieties and frustration melted away. I met French, Luxembourgish, Swiss, Americans, English and learned so much, from so many. I connected with people from across the world: we ran together, ate together and formed friendships that will endure beyond the two week we were together.

So, I never met Kipchoge, nor Faith Kipyegon. However, I did experience solid sunshine for the whole weeks (it never actually rained). The mangoes I ate were the best I’ve ever tasted. And I returned home feeling stronger, more determined and ready to crush some PBs.

The whole trip restored my faith in humanity. I learned so much more than running. The trip didn’t just build my character, it revealed it. I returned home feeling like a boss ass bitch!

If you’re thinking about this trip, just book it. Trust me: it’s more than a running experience.

Find Your Tribe

The red dirt of Iten, Kenya, has a way of stripping away the noise and revealing the friendships that actually matter. Over 90% of our guests travel solo, but our love for running brings us together as one tribe. No matter what your running goals are, there is a seat at our table (and a pacer on our trails) waiting for you.

Don’t just go for the miles; go for the people who will help you run them.

Talk to Callum about your trip! – harass him as much as you like!

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