Day 4: St. Patrick’s School, Family Dinner

Tuesday, Part II !

Tuesday afternoon included a visit to St. Patrick’s School of Iten. An all-boys national school and home to over 1500 student athletes from Kenya and other countries. The history of this school dates back to the 1960’s, while any fan of the sport of running would appreciate knowing the name and legacy of Brother Colm O’Donnell and his role.

The Irish missionary went to Kenya to teach geography at St Patrick’s High School in 1976 as a 28-year old. He was supposed to stay for three months…but he’s been there ever since. We even passed him walking his 3 dogs on the street during his morning stroll, en route to the track workout. Brother Colm was the principal of St. Patrick’s from 1986-1993 and started the running program at St. Patrick’s. His coaching style, training approach, and continued student of coaching the sport has led him to countless Olympic and World Championship medalists (25 as of January 2024) who either attended the boarding school or attended the training camps he began to hold for professional athletes.

He is known as the Godfather of Kenyan running, playing a major role in the now > 100 training camps in the country. His arrival to this country and the impact he continues to make in his > 50 years of coaching is a beautiful example of what God has in His plan…Brother Colm saying “yes” to 3 months that turned into a lifetime of influence and impact in the running world and Kenyan culture.

The school grounds also hold a hall of fame museum filled with artifacts of the >60 year existence as well as running history. We were amazed to learn and just in awe of the young men this school produces in and outside of sport and is such a life changing opportunity for each student.

The rest of the afternoon was spent at our sports medicine clinic evaluations for local runners, utilizing the Iten Community Referral Hospital. We continue to see a combination of male and female patients with various running diagnoses…knee pain, groin pain, hamstring strains, Achilles tendinitis, shin splints, and beyond. Our RTR Sports medicine physician team of Dr. Tracy, Dr. Chad, and Dr. Carole have X-ray, MRI, and diagnostic ultrasound options if an athlete requires to rule in/rule out bone and/or ligament injury. We continue to see about 16-24 athletes/day and are often limited to time and often have late arrivals come back to begin our clinic the following day. Each runner, though injured and desiring to run healthy, are so grateful for our assistance and education on what they have going on and how to begin a rehab program to get them back on track and prevent further and future injury. The hope in their eyes and the sincere gratitude is something that fills our hearts knowing we are playing the role God wants for us all: to be a team and to navigate struggle together to eventually see a brighter sun.


We ended our evening at the home of RTR Operations Director in Kenya: Kip, and his wife Nelly. They turned their living room into a dining table to seat 10, while the rest of his family gathered around the kitchen table.


Traditional Kenyan foods of ugali (cornmeal), chapati (a US favorite! similar to a tortilla), beef stew, mashed potatoes, cooked squash Cole slaw, and of course Kenyan chai tea was beyond delicious. The more love into a meal, the better it is. It was divine.

Kip and Nelly are a living example of the hospitality of the Kenyan culture. Not only did they feed our entire RTR team, their own family, but also frequently have KIPRUN Team athletes over for meals and serve as family to the athletes. De’Ette surprised Nelly with a special handmade macrame for their home that was just as beautiful as it was accepted by Nelly and her emotion.

Kip led our Bible study for the night and reflected in Philippians that belief and suffering go hand in hand. Many challenges in life are opportunities unexposed. God will not call you if you are qualified…He qualifies you through following His call. Suffering is a gift that often do not see until we lean into Him, until we strip over selves of stubbornness, until we truly free ourselves of whatever deeper layer of weight we are holding on to.

Adventure on…in Christ.