I’m very grateful to be one of a number of athletes who receive support from the Virgin London Marathon which allows me to travel to Kenya to train with some of the best athletes in the world. This January was my seventh successive trip to the High Altitude Centre based in the small town of Iten in the Rift Valley.

I may have been here before but Iten and the people here never fail to inspire me. I also never tire of the extensive red dirt trails.

The local people ooze with positivity you can’t help being infected by it.

This year I decided to get out of my comfort zone and fully embrace the Kenyan routine of long run and tempos at dawn. I also took the opportunity to join the local fartlek workouts which attract over 100 athletes.

Thanks again to the London Marathon for helping fund the trip