On a natural high, with gold in sight

They follow in the footsteps of Kenyan legends such as marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and two-time Olympic gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge, both shaped by this oxygen-thin highland region.

"This region is our nation's beating heart of endurance sports," said Barnaba Korir, youth development director of Athletics Kenya, gesturing toward the mist-shrouded highlands.

Scientific studies attribute the area's dominance to its population's genetically higher proportion of slow-twitch muscle fibers — an evolutionary adaptation to high-altitude living that enhances oxygen efficiency. Combined with an average elevation of 2,200 meters, it has what sports physiologists regard as perfect conditions for endurance athleticism.