Why Kenyans, Ethiopians are the Cheetahs of Long-distance Running

Lagos, Nigeria—The dominance of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners in middle and long-distance track events or marathons dates back to the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. In recent times, there is no better affirmation of East Africans as kings and queens of athletics competition than their consistent winning of the 42km Lagos City Marathon. This year’s road-racing competition held last Saturday saw Kenya’s Edwin Kibet and Ethiopia’s Guta Meseret Hirpa emerging victorious in both the men’s and women’s categories.

While Kibet the finish line with a time of 2 hours 14 minutes and six seconds to secure the $50,000 prize money, Hirpa outpaced other female competitors, clocking a time of 2 hours 37 minutes and four seconds to claim her first-ever victory in the Lagos City Marathon. This is as thousands of local and international runners including elite athletes competed for glory in the prestigious race in Nigeria’s commercial capital. The endurance and expertise of East African athletes in long-distance racing remain unmatched. 

Recall that the 2024 edition was won by another Kenyan, Bernard Sang, within a time of 2 hours 16 minutes and 49 seconds Kibet came third in that competition. In 2022, Ulfata Deresa Geleta of Ethiopia beat other competitors to the $30,000 grand prize after crossing the finish line at 2 hours 11 minutes and 54 seconds. In that seventh edition, a Kenyan, David Barmasai, finished the 42km race in 2 hours, 13 minutes and 33 seconds to emerge as the first runner-up and received $20,000 for his troubles. 

Elsewhere, athletes from these two countries have remained shining lights.  The fastest marathon ever recorded was run by the Kenyan, Eliud Kipchoge, on October 12, 2019. He completed the marathon in 1:59:40 which is a pace of approximately four minutes and 34 seconds per mile. This is quite significant given that it shattered the long-held belief that a human couldn't run a marathon in under two hours.

While the global average time for a 26.2-mile marathon was 4 hours 32 minutes and 39 seconds, which is equivalent to a speed of about 10 minutes and 34 seconds per mile, the late Kenyan distance runner Kelvin Kiptum, completed the same in 2:00:35, at a staggering pace of exactly four minutes and 36 seconds per mile. Sportblot is then forced to ask: What is it about runners from Kenya and Ethiopia that makes them so swift-footed and superior at long-distance running? 

Genetic Disposition and Physiology 

One of the primary reasons why Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes are so successful in long-distance running is likely related to their genetic makeup. Several studies have pointed out that people of specific ethnic groups from these regions, particularly the Kalenjin people of Kenya and the Oromo people of Ethiopia, have physical attributes that are conducive to long-distance running. One key trait is their lean body type. Both Kenyan and Ethiopian runners tend to have a low percentage of body fat, which is essential for efficiency during long runs. 

Studies have shown that Kenyans and Ethiopians who live around the Great Rift Valley have legs that are well-equipped for running. In a study conducted in 2012, professional Kenyan runners were found to have legs that were, on average, five percent longer and 12 percent thinner than Scandinavian runners (Wilber and Pitsiladis, 2012). Scientific evidence indicates that this is beneficial for running economy (the efficiency with which a person can run at high speeds for a long time; it is measured by tracking oxygen consumption at different speeds), as thinner, longer legs are less heavy and have naturally longer strides. This means Kenyan runners and their Ethiopian neighbours require less effort to move long distances over time.

Altitude Training and Environmental Factors

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The Arsi tribe of Ethiopia makes up only five percent of the nation’s population but produces most of their professional runners. Similarly, the Kalenjin tribe makes up around 13.4 percent of Kenya’s population, yet nearly every professional runner from Kenya is a part of this ethnic group. What unites these two tribes is that their ancestral homes of Iten and Bekoji are both located at high altitudes—over 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) above sea level. Living and training at high altitudes forces the body to adapt to a high maximal oxygen uptake as a result of extensive walking and running at an early age.

This can enhance endurance and overall aerobic capacity as the body compensates for the decreased oxygen by producing more red blood cells, which increases the blood's ability to transport oxygen to the muscles. This adaptation makes athletes from these regions particularly suited for long-distance events, where efficient oxygen use is critical.

Many of the world's top athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia spend significant time training at these high-altitude locations. Over time, their bodies become accustomed to this environment, leading to increased endurance and the ability to perform well at sea level, where oxygen is more abundant. In addition to high-altitude training, these athletes often engage in outdoor, rigorous training routines that take advantage of the natural terrain, such as running on hills, which further strengthens their muscles and cardiovascular system. This ability to conduct moderate-volume, high-intensity training at altitude on a consistent basis ultimately translates into exceptional running performance for the Kenyans and Ethiopians on descent to lower elevations.

Socio-economic Reason

Among the Kalenjin and Arsi tribes that traditionally produce the best runners in Kenya and Ethiopia, respectively, it is common for pupils and students to begin distance running at an early age, both as a sporting activity and as the primary method of transport to and from school. Most families in the Kalenjin and Arsi tribes are very poor, creating a necessity for runners from this region to earn as much money as possible for their families. In all of Kenya and Ethiopia, the estimated percentages of families living below the poverty line are 36 and 68.7 respectively, and the percentage for the Kalenjin and Arsi tribes are suspected to be much higher. Due to this poverty and the underdeveloped communities in which the Kalenjin and Arsi tribes typically reside, cars, buses, and bicycles are often unaffordable and impractical, and most people from these tribes rely on distance running as their primary means of transportation. This means that Kalenjin and Arsi children begin running long distances at a very young age to get to school, which is commonly over six miles away. Added to this is the fact that Kenyan and Ethiopian runners are extremely motivated psychologically. They realize that success in distance running will result in socioeconomic rewards and ultimately elevate them and their families to the top ranks in their respective societies. Running is considered a legitimate career path in this region due to the success that families have seen their neighbors and friends achieve. 

Communal Spirit and Collaborative Training

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Success in the running world can be taught and learned, and by surrounding oneself with better runners. Kenyan and Ethiopian runners are often seen running together and even partake in camps where they train together. The cordial community these runners have created is unique in the world of athletics, most of which is gated about training. These athletes typically train in groups, which fosters a sense of camaraderie and helps maintain motivation. Training sessions are intense, focusing on building both aerobic and anaerobic endurance. Workouts include long runs, interval training, hill workouts, and speed sessions, all designed to improve stamina and efficiency over long distances. Less experienced and talented runners improve as they learn from veterans, creating a prosperous community of runners. Training alongside the best runners in the world, these athletes learn from one another, push each other, creating a culture of collective growth and improvement.

Conclusion

The reasons for Kenyan and Ethiopian dominance in athletics are inexhaustible. There is a dietary and nutritional dimension to their dominance. The traditional diet of both peoples are often rich in carbohydrates, with foods like ugali (a type of maize porridge), rice, and potatoes providing the necessary energy for training. They also consume a variety of fruits and vegetables that support recovery and overall health. Other responsible factors include: relatively high hemoglobin and hematocrit, development of good metabolic “economy/efficiency” based on somatotype and lower limb characteristics, favorable skeletal-muscle-fiber composition and oxidative enzyme profile. 

While other countries may embody some of these qualities, the synergy of these factors in Kenya and Ethiopia creates an unparalleled environment for producing world-class athletes shaped by their surroundings, heritage and communal factors. As it were, these East African nations have established a venerable tradition of excellence in the sport of distance running, which continues to fuel the dreams and work ethic of Kenya’s and Ethiopia’s current and future Olympic champions.