Yaya Village: New High Altitude Training Center in Ethiopia

Why aren't there any prices on the website?

How much is it?

Hi no o2, it is $60 per night with breakfast included. Most lunch and dinner options in the restaurant cost the equivalent of $2-4 and there is plenty of suitable food for runners (pasta, rice, vegetables, porridge, coffee etc.).

Link to Becky Wade's blog on her experiences with the Yaya Girls Running program:

http://beckyrunsaway.wordpress.com/

FB page:

http://www.facebook.com/YayaGirlsRunning?ref=ts&fref=ts

How long is the average stay? Would we get advice from the notable runners or coaches, or just get to stay at the facility?

How safe is travel in Africa?

I am interested in the Vollunteer oppurtunites, is there any chance at an internship or paid position for a college student?

Hi CArun,

Most literature suggests 2-3 weeks of training at high altitude is required to achieve the greatest benefit. We have had many runners stay for one week and some for just a few days (normally as part of a longer trip).

The booking would only cover stay at the resort, use of the gym and breakfast (there is also the option to book full-board). We work regularly with Coach Melaku Deresse of the Ethiopian marathon squad but a huge input from notable runners is unlikely. The Yaya guide runners will be happy to accompany you on whatever run or session you would like to do and there are literally hundreds of local runners in the nearby forests and fields every morning.

Ethiopia is exceptionally safe by African standards and there is very little crime. Ethiopians are very friendly towards westerners.

Hi tiger_runner,

That's great, I'm currently here on an unpaid internship myself. Please email me at

yaya.girls.program@gmail.com

Interestingly, when some Western athletes go to far-away places for their shot of altitude training, they improve more than when they do the same domestically. Is the grass really greener on the other side of the creek? No, it's not. Hint: the far away from everything part helps in other ways too. For Europeans, even Boulder is "far away". For Jeannie Longo, it turned out to be not far enough to uphold her image.