Unless they are diligent marathon runners, few French people know Iten. This city of Kenya with a population of 42,000, located at an altitude of 2400 meters, is a fabulous place for lovers of running. Hundreds of intercity race champions have crossed this highland for training.
This is the case of Guillaume Pontier, the founder of Distance, a specialty store originally from Lyon (13, rue Cavenne), also located in Paris (14, rue des Filles du Calvaire). “My father is a running coach, he has coached the French mid-distance teams for a long time, he explains. For the last ten years he has been organizing training courses there. This allowed me to discover that place. “
Used running shoes
The 30-year-old specialist notes on the spot that, except for sponsored athletes, many interns do not have the necessary equipment for running. “The city’s two stores, which sell models for about 100 euros, cater more to visiting foreign athletes than to Kenyans, whose average salary is about 50 euros.” Then the entrepreneur decided to sell second-hand running shoes there at a lower price.
“Some brands have offered us test pairs, which have been used very little. Some of the resources come from our customers, which change frequently shoes After 600 kilometers. Then they can live a second life.continues Guillaume Pontier. The goal is to offer affordable but not free equipment to underprivileged athletes, as this can disrupt the local economy and weaken other running players. But to create local jobs. Proceeds from the sale of the couple, from 4 to 20 euros, are used to finance salaries and rents.»
The goal is to offer affordable but not free equipment to underprivileged athletes, as this can disrupt the local economy and weaken other running players. But to create local jobs
Guillaume Pontier, Founder of Distance
In mid-February, the store, run by 21-year-old Wilfried և 19-year-old Ladisha, reopened, having already sold 200 of the first 250 couples sent to Iten. And the adventure does not end there. “We also have a donation fund, through which we hope to give the people who work with us the opportunity to come and compete in Europe.»
Source: Le Figaro
