I'm raising £1,000 to help Iten-based, Emmanuel Bundotich, running coach and pacer at The Kenyan Running Experience maintain his van (and maybe buy a new one) which he uses to transport Team Emmanuel runners to and from races and training. Learn more about how Emmanuel helped me train while I've been here in Iten.

Ten years ago, Emmanuel, aged 26, like many other young Kenyans, left his home 60km away and set up home in Iten with a goal: to become a competitive runner.

Hopeful runners in Kenya save hard and give themselves three to five years to try their luck and see if they can make a career of running — it’s high risk and only a small number make it. But it’s a risk worth taking for runners in Kenya.

Emmanuel and ‘Lilly's group’ on track at Tambach 12km away from Iten

Unlike us in the West running isn’t just a nice way to get fit and have fun with your friends, it’s a serious life-changing way out of poverty and for those who make it, the rewards can be shared with an entire village.

Vans are vital for up-and-coming runners in Iten. Coaches take runners to local spots for long runs and carry water and nutrition as they do long runs (for example on the Moiben Road) – as well as taking them from remote villages to the track or other meeting points.

When Emmanuel arrived in Iten, he trained so hard that his trainers were worn out. Lucky for him, coach, mentor, and now friend, Raymond Choge (pictured below) spotted his potential and offered to help by introducing him to an elite training group and getting him new running kit. Gilbert Kriwa (pictured below) was also on hand offering free transport in his van for up-and-coming runners with limited funds.

When I first met Emmanuel he told me how he’d originally wanted to be a teacher, now he’s a teacher of running, as well as an aspiring athlete, with a sub 2.10 goal for the Malaga Marathon in April 2026.

The father of three children (Brian, Jayden and Faith) combines running 180K a week with coaching others — children at the academies, university students and ‘Mzungus’ like me visiting Iten with a hope of always finding ways to learn and improve as a runner. Emmanuel believes in passing on and giving back — he helps young athletes as he was helped, offering free support and transport.

Emmanuel sends weekly schedules to the University students

To continue doing this, Emmanuel needs to keep investing in his van, which although does the job, needs a bit of TLC. In the long term, he’d like to buy a new van which would cost around 1 million shillings — equivalent to around £6,000, but for now £1,000 will help keep his van in good working order and will cover some of the costs of maintenance and repairs.

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Raymond Choge — introduced Emmanuel to an elite running group and gave him his first running kit

Gilbert Kriwa – transported Emmanuel and others free of charge