For athletes training in Elgeyo Marakwet, the inaugural Iten international marathon is a race brought home - where on a daily basis, they endure a punishing high altitude and occasionally, chilly weather conditions as they go on with their training sessions.
On Sunday, road racers training in Iten and other camps such as Kapsait and Kaptagat alongside hundreds of compatriots from other counties and foreign athletes, will be eying the marathon's Sh1 million winning prize, and pride of winning at home to boot.