Julien Wanders, the Swiss long-distance runner renowned for his grit and determination, is once again putting in the hard miles in Kenya.
On Tuesday, Wanders shared a video from a workout at Kamariny Stadium in Iten with a caption that read : “Track sessions in Kamariny is never easy.”
Born in Geneva, Wanders has built his career around embracing the tough, often unforgiving nature of elite distance training. A regular fixture in the Kenyan highlands, he spends nearly half the year in Iten, a small town known globally for producing world-class runners.
Since his first visit in 2014, Wanders has immersed himself in the Kenyan running culture, learning from the best and challenging himself against them.
Julien Wanders is no stranger to adversity. He still holds the European record for the half marathon, clocking 59:13 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in 2019. Also, European 10 km road record of 27:13, set in Valencia in 2020. But in recent years, his journey has been anything but smooth.
Setbacks
In 2021, his season was derailed by a hamstring injury and pneumonia, though he managed to represent Switzerland at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing 21st in the 10,000 meters. Post-Games, an MRI revealed serious hamstring irritation, forcing him into an extended break.
The following year proved equally challenging. Wanders made his marathon debut in Paris but struggled with digestive issues, finishing in 2:11:52. He was later diagnosed with a sacral stress fracture, which sidelined him for much of the season. His comeback attempts, including a run at the Copenhagen Half Marathon and the Valencia Marathon were both cut short by illness.
Despite these setbacks, Wanders continues to chase his marathon breakthrough. In April 2025, he lined up at the Hamburg Marathon with hopes of breaking the 2:10 barrier, but was forced to abandon the race around the 25 km mark.
Earlier in the year, Wanders competed at the Napoli City Half Marathon on February 23. Kenyans, led by Emmanuel Wafula, ran a blistering 59:42 for the win. Simon Maywa (1:00:26) and Edward Koonyo (1:00:37) rounded out the podium, with Wanders further down the field.
His return to Kamariny is yet another step in his ongoing rebuild. His weekly routine includes up to 13 sessions covering between 170 and 190 kilometers, plus strength and core stability work.