Kenya, Chateau De runners - 1999

OF THE TOP 50 TIMES RECORDED THIS YEAR ARE BY KENYANS. HE'S AMONG THEM. HOW DOES THIS PLACE GIVE BIRTH TO GREAT RUNNERS? KENYAN MEN HAVE WON 34 OLYMPIC DISTANCE RUNNING MEDALS SINCE 1964 -- MORE THAN THREE TIMES AS MANY AS RIVALS FROM ANY OTHER COUNTRY. >> MOSES TANUI WINS THE GOLD MEDAL. Al>> KENYA'S RISE AS A MARATHON POWER DIDN'T ARRIVE UNTIL THE LATE '80s AND NOW 4 WINS IN 5 YEARS. SPECULATION ABOUT THE REASONS FOR KENYA'S SUCCESS CENTERS ON A COUPLE OF FACTORS. THE COUNTRY'S HIGH ALTITUDE WHERE THIN AIR ENRICHES THE BLOOD AND STRENGTHENS HEARTS AND LUNGS. SECOND, POVERTY, WHICH ALSO TOUGHENS THEM FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD. SMALL HOUSES. NO ELECTRICITY. NO TV. NO FAMILY CAR. THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES OUTDOORS. >> YOU HAVE TO WALK WHEN YOU NEED ANYTHING. THEY GAIN A LOT OF STAMINA WHEN THEY ARE WALKING. WHEN THEY START RUNNING, THEY HAVE STAMINA ALREADY. WE DON'T HAVE CARS OR BUSES TO TAKE KIDS TO SCHOOL. EVERYONE HAS TO WALK TO SCHOOL OR RUN TO SCHOOL, AND IT'S PART OF OUR LIFE. Al>> THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THERE IS MORE BEHIND KENYAN RUNNING SUCCESS THAN ALTITUDE OR A HARD OUTDOOR LIFE. >> THE TALENT IS NOT GENERALIZED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY BUT IS HIGHLY CONCENTRATED IN ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S 40 TRIBES. ONE TRIBE PRODUCES THREE-QUARTERS OF THE TOP RUNNERS. Al>> THE SUCCESS OF THE ONE TRIBE, THE KALENGEN, SUCCESSES THAT THE PHENOMENON MAY BE BASED ON OTHER FACTORS. EVEN THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN WHY THEY DIDN'T TRANSLATE INTO MARATHON SUCCESS UNTIL RECENTLY. >> ONLY THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE KENYANS BEEN TRAINING WERE TRAINERS. EUROPEAN COACHES MARVELING AT KENYANS WOULD GO TO KENYA TO SEE WHAT THE SECRET WAS AND SAY THESE GUYS ARE HARDLY TRAINING AT ALL. AND, THEY WERE. Al>> ALL THAT CHANGED WITH SHOE COMPANY SPONSORED TRAINING CAMPS. A WIN TODAY MEANS MORE THAN WHAT AN AVERAGE KENYAN WOULD EARN IN 200 YEARS. >> YOU CAN BUY A FARM. YOU CAN BUY COWS. YOU CAN BUY A CAR. AND WITH THAT, YOU'RE A WELL OFF MAN.