One East African town, sitting at high altitude, has produced a disproportionate number of the world's best distance runners, drawing serious athletes specifically to train at altitude rather than to race. A major ultramarathon further south adds a different kind of running heritage.
The destinations on this list range from high-altitude training towns with a genuine running culture built into daily life to major organised races with decades of competitive history. Both attract runners for very different reasons.
Allowing time to acclimatise before training at altitude matters considerably, where altitude affects performance more than visiting runners often expect. Local running clubs welcome visiting athletes for training sessions. Packing light, breathable running gear also matters considerably given the warm daytime temperatures.
