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House of the rising runners: Top Kenyan athletes train from a semi in Teddington
Matthew Beard and Lena De Casparis6 Apr 2009
IT looks like an ordinary suburban house. But behind the front door, sporting legends are being created.
A modest semi in south-west London is home to some of the world's finest endurance athletes and has become famed as a medal factory.
Five of the eight current residents are from Kenya, including a world record holder and three siblings.
The group have become known locally as the "Teddington Kenyans" who use it as their base to fly to races in Europe or the United States. Their training runs are an amazing sight as they effortlessly fly past joggers in Bushy and Richmond parks.
Inside the semi, 30 pairs of running shoes line the hall and the walls are covered with trophies. It has such a reputation that Mo Farah, Britain's brightest middle distance hope, left his home in nearby Feltham to move in for a year in 2006. He went on to win two European titles and says the house enlightened him to world-class training.
A world steeplechase and 3,000m champions and the Olympic 1,500m champion have been previous tenants. The current housemates - including runners from Tanzania and Uganda - stick to a strict regime.
Olympic runner Moses Masai, 23, from Eldored in Kenya, lives in the house with his younger sister Linet - who is a world junior cross-country champion - and younger brother Dennis. Moses said: "I wake up about 6am to go train at the park. I'll get back by about 8am and cook breakfast. I cook tea, bread and eggs; I like cooking and cook for all the others. In the afternoon I'll go for a slower jog, and then another run in the evening.
"At about 7pm I relax. I like to read the sports magazines and watch the football - I support Chelsea."
However the athletes are in bed by 9pm to get enough sleep. They live on Kenyan dishes of ugali - a maize and flour dough - which they eat with vegetables and meat, mainly chicken.
Occasionally they go shopping or sightseeing. "We love to see the Christmas lights in London," said Micah Kogo, the world's fastest runner over 10km, and a Teddington regular.
The runners' agency, Pace Sports Management, has put the athletes up in the area for 13 years. Previously they stayed in a nearby house owned by Irish running legend Sonia O'Sullivan. During the summer track and field season, the whole area becomes an enclave for international athletes. Jamaican double Olympic champion Usain Bolt stayed in a Teddington bed and breakfast as he prepared for the Beijing Games last summer, and will be back again this year.
"The area's a mecca for these runners," said Grainne O'Dea of Pace. "Usain comes here with his group as he is one of our clients. They stay in a B&B and fly to the races around Europe."
Also on the doorstep is St Mary's University, the centre for Britain's top runners with a track and sports science facilities. The runners bemoan the cost of living in Britain and miss family and friends. However, Kogo, said: "I've been here many times before and being here feels like home."
A neighbour said: "The athletes [are] very nice and polite; I like them. I follow their careers and watch out for them when I watch the athletics on the TV."
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Reader views (1)
Im retired Athlete.I like the sport,let me say running is our tradition (the Kalenjin)I support you, Thanks.
- Christopher Mibei, Eldoret Kenya, 06/04/2009 12:13
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