As dawn breaks over the sleepy town of Iten, its dusty tracks come alive with packs of runners keeping a steady rhythm, often followed by cheerful children headed to school.

Some of the athletes are elite Kenyans. Others travel from farther afield.

All are here because this unassuming little town lies at about 2,400 meters above sea level and has produced some of the best long-distance runners in the world.

To cater to the ever-growing interest from both professional and amateur athletes, hotels, lodges and short-stay rental apartments continue to spring up around the town, located 350 kilometers northwest of Nairobi.

"I came to Kenya to experience this elite running community here," said Ryan Mex of Malta.

Mex, a semi-professional runner and coach, brought three athletes with him to get a competitive edge ahead of Malta's marathon season.

It's his first time here.

"Next time, I want to come with a larger group, because we really like the training environment here," Mex said. "This is the best place in the world to come for a training camp."