EVERY distance runner is familiar with the great athletes from Kenya, and this week Copacabana's Dominic and Edwin Perry will realise their dream of meeting some of these sporting legends and training with them.

The two brothers, students at Kincumber High School, flew to Kenya yesterday for an extended visit with their host Reuben Kosgei, famous for being the youngest winner of an Olympic 3000 metres steeplechase.

Kosgei won the event when aged only 19 at the Sydney Olympics and Dominic met him when he visited West Gosford's Adcock Park and talked to members of Gosford Athletics Club.

The Kenyan invited the brothers to visit his country and train with him and other runners on the mountain trails near Eldoret at an altitude of 2400 metres.

"It's a big chance for them to learn from some of the world's top distance runners," their coach at Mingara Athletics Club, Paul Arthur, said.

In his youth Arthur also moved away from home for a training stint in Ballarat with champion Steve Moneghetti.

He later represented Australia as a cross-country runner and among other wins claimed victory in the Sydney City to Surf.

"The altitude training will give Dominic and Edwin the perfect preparation for the NSW 10 km track championship in February," he said.

Dominic, 19, recently won the Central Coast 10 km track title in 33 minutes, 36 seconds and his brother Edwin, 21, finished seventh in the Central Coast Bay to Bay fun run after training for only three months.

Not surprisingly their father Chris was also a top runner, winning numerous fun runs in the Tamworth region.