KATA Running Retreat K01A - Thika Kenya KATA.KE - KATA Running Camps and KATA Potatoes

KATA Running Retreat K01A

Thika KE

Operated By: KATA Kenya

About the Camp

KATA Running Retreat – Thika, Kenya (K01A)

Train the Kenyan Way at the Home of Champions

Welcome to the Kenyan Athletics Training Academy (KATA) in Thika — the heart and home of the KATA Running Camps and Farms network. Established in January 2020, this was the first official KATA location, setting the standard for all others to follow.

The facility is managed by Dennis Maasai, with Head Coach John Matheri leading the elite training program, and Assistant Manager and My Best Runs Manager Elam Wangwero ensuring everything runs smoothly.

KATA Thika serves as the Kenyan base for the KATA global initiative — combining athletics, farming, and community. It is owned by Director and Founder Bob Anderson and his wife Catherine Anderson, whose vision continues to inspire athletes across the world.

How It All Began

The idea for KATA was first discussed in 2014, when Bob, Catherine, and Elam staged a Double Road Race in Thika. What began as a conversation about promoting running and community soon evolved into a full-fledged academy — a place where runners from Kenya and beyond could train, live, and grow together.

Bob Anderson’s lifetime dedication to running laid the foundation for KATA’s philosophy. As the founder of Runner’s World magazine, which he started at age 17 in 1966, Bob helped inspire a global running movement. Over his remarkable career, he has run thousands of miles, directed international races, and built programs that connect runners from every level. Bob started running in 1962, has run 11 marathons including Boston, New York and Honolulu and has run over 1000 races around the world. Together with Catherine, he brought that same passion to Kenya — blending authentic Kenyan training with hospitality and cultural exchange.

Train, Eat, and Live Like a Kenyan

Since opening, athletes from around the world — men, women, couples, and groups of all abilities — have come to Thika to Train the Kenyan Way. Every guest experiences the same rhythm that shapes Kenya’s great distance runners: morning runs, core work, rest, healthy Kenyan meals, and afternoon sessions led by world-class coaches.

You’ll train alongside elite athletes, sharing the same trails and learning from their discipline and spirit, all while moving at your own pace and comfort level.

All-Inclusive Guest Experience

Whether you stay for a few days or several months, KATA offers weekly all-inclusive packages designed to make your experience effortless:

Airport pickup and return
Private room with bath
All meals (Kenyan runner’s diet)
World-class training program

All of this for just $375 USD per week per person — an unmatched value for the opportunity to immerse yourself in the daily life of Kenyan champions.

Come discover why KATA Thika is where running dreams take root.
Book your stay today — and Train the Kenyan Way.

Book your stay: https://katarunningretreat.com/

Click here to map of all KATA Camps and Potato Farms

Camp Photos

Most Recent Race

KATA Time Trial 49th Edition · 2025-10-15 · 10k Men

#	Bib	Name	Gender	Age	Time
1	22	John Chege	M	20	29:22
2	02	Kelvin Ragui	M	24	30:21
3	07	Boniface Mungai	M	30	30:44
4	11	Joseph Kariuki	M	39	31:01
5	04	Charles Ndirangu	M	24	32:40
6	05	Ishmael Mburu	M	25	33:41
7	30	Paul Nganga	M	43	36:16
8	08	Charles Ndirangu	M	65	39:11

KATA Time Trial 50th Edition · 2025-11-12 · 10k Women

#	Bib	Name	Gender	Age	Time
1	39	Loise Kiarie	F	24	33:49 (PB)
2	38	Jacinta Kamau	F	24	34:48
3	54	Kellen Waithira	F	38	36:11
4	52	Susan Njuu	F	40	36:34
5	47	Lilian Nyamai	F	25	37:04
6	51	Karen Chepkemoi	F	24	37:29
7	72	Ruth Maina	F	23	37:36
8	34	Felistas Maina	F	37	40:04
9	36	Mary Wangari	F	35	40:04

KATA Time Trial 49th Edition · 2025-10-15 · 10k Women

#	Bib	Name	Gender	Age	Time
1	79	Jacinta Kamau	F	24	33:45
2	78	Loise Kiarie	F	24	34:22
3	80	Ruth Maina	F	22	38:04
4	83	Agnes Wanjiru	F	20	41:15

KATA Time Trial 50th Edition · 2025-11-12 · 5k Men

#	Bib	Name	Gender	Age	Time
1	74	Charles Ndirangu	M	24	15:32
2	73	James Lawrence	M	16	18:01
3	35	Eric Mwaura	M	18	18:07
4	73	Tobias Kosgei	M	16	18:50

KATA Time Trial 50th Edition · 2025-11-12 · 5k Women

#	Bib	Name	Gender	Age	Time
1	33	Agnes Wanjiru	F	20	19:21

KATA Time Trial 50th Edition · 2025-11-12 · 10 Men

#	Bib	Name	Gender	Age	Time
1	76	John Chege	M	21	29:49
2	31	Bernard Waweru	M	31	30:29
3	71	Stephen Ngigi	M	22	30:29
4	77	Borniface Mungai	M	30	30:53
5	49	Dan Lolngojine	M	19	31:01
6	40	John Kuria	M	30	31:33
7	41	Joel Maina	M	43	32:15
8	48	Justus Nyamai	M	18	33:25
9	50	Ismael Mburu	M	25	33:44
10	46	Erick Cheruiyot	M	30	33:55
11	32	Joseph Nyota	M	20	34:05
12	37	Peter Mukundi	M	27	36:46
13	53	Charles Ndirangu	M	65	38:02

View all results for this camp

Heat, Heart, and Honest Miles: Thika Roads Test Resolve at the 52nd Monthly Time Trial

Under a relentless Thika sun, the roads stretched long and unforgiving as the Kenyan Athletics Training Academy – Thika hosted the 52nd edition of its Monthly Time Trial, a road race that demanded more than speed. The morning carried an unusual warmth, the kind that settles early on the tarmac and lingers in the lungs, turning every stride into a quiet negotiation between ambition and endurance. Yet, for the athletes who lined up, the heat was not an excuse—it was part of the lesson.

From the opening kilometers, the race unfolded with calm intensity. In the men’s 5km, Robin Musa cut through the heavy air with controlled fluency, stopping the clock at 15:37 to take top honors. Yedi Kohen, a guest athlete from Israel, followed in 24:14, embracing the demanding Kenyan roads with determination and sporting spirit.

The women’s 5km carried a graceful defiance of the conditions. Regina Sandiki ran with poise and quiet confidence, crossing the line first in 19:18, her performance glowing with promise even as the heat pressed down.

As temperatures climbed, the men’s 10km emerged as the true test of the morning. Patience and restraint became as important as raw strength. Stephen Kangethe delivered a composed and commanding run, claiming victory in 28:45. He was pursued by Raphael Karita, who finished in 29:43, while Peter Njeru secured third place in 30:02. Behind them, the road told deeper stories of resolve as James Murithi (30:41), Bernard Waweru (31:26), Joel Maina (31:42), Boniface Mungai (32:13), Charles Ndirangu (32:31), Erick Cheruiyot (32:35), Joseph Nyota (33:31), Paul Nganga (34:14), David Muriuki (34:25), Bernard Gicheha (35:37), and Charles Ndirangu (37:32) carried fatigue with dignity to the finish.

The women’s 10km unfolded with measured courage under the unyielding sun. Loise Kiari maintained a serene rhythm to claim victory in 33:53, followed by Jacinta Kamau in 34:41 and Susan Njuu in 35:37. Further down the course, Jane Wanja (36:52), Caren Chepkemoi (38:22), and Ruth Macharia (43:39) battled both distance and temperature, finishing with resilience written into every step.

Beyond the times and rankings, the 52nd Monthly Time Trial stood as a quiet reminder of what shapes Kenyan athletics. It is forged on open roads, under heavy skies, in moments where heat meets heart and effort speaks louder than applause. In Thika, the sun may have been harsh, but it only illuminated the spirit that keeps runners returning—honest miles, honest work, and the relentless pursuit of better.

By: Erick Cheruiyot