Meb Keflezighi started running in 7th grade, motivated by getting an A in his P.E. class and a t-shirt. He ran a 5:20 mile then. Now, he’s an Olympic Silver Medalist and the winner of the 2009 New York City Marathon and 2014 Boston Marathon. And he’s the only marathoner to who has an Olympic medal and victories in both New York and Boston.
The 2014 win is his most meaningful victory. That day he carried the pressure of a changed running community, and of the city of Boston, from the bomb that shook the 2013 Marathon. ‘I understood the magnitude of crossing the finish line first on Patriot’s Day with the Red Sox World Series Trophy in sight,’ explained Keflezighi.
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He’s currently training to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. On February 13, he’ll compete in the Olympic Marathon Trials in LA, a race that will take him back to his old stomping grounds. Keflizighi earned a scholarship to UCLA where he ran for coach Bob Larsen, who has had a huge impact on his career. Larsen introduced him to Mammoth Lakes, California in 1995 as part of UCLA’s altitude training program. Two decades later, the two are still training there.
Keflezighi knew that to be competitive, he needed to incorporate altitude training into his regiment because it builds red blood cells – and because his competitors were training that way. He notes that you need a minimum of three weeks running at altitude to increase oxygen capacity. So he bought a home in Mammoth Lakes in 2002, where he and many of his competitors spend much of the year training.
Over the years, Keflizighi has overcome many injuries, including a pelvic stress fracture, that have forced him to adapt his training. Now at age 40, he realizes that he must face a new normal that requires more recovery days and fewer training miles. He trains on a nine day cycle to have enough recovery days and he relies on various technologies to know how his body is reacting to training and recovery.
During his runs his tool of choice is to get real-time data with the Epson Runsense smartwatch, which features a customizable screen to easily track his pace, distance, mile splits, steps per minute, elevation loss/gain, and heart rate. Keflezighi says that a heart rate monitor is really important to indicate how long he needs to recover. He can get his resting heart rate at any time to make sure he’s recovering fully.
His advice to new runners is to stay healthy. Keflezighi also says, ‘putting on your shoes and getting out the door is the hardest part. Make it a routine and if you do the work, you’ll perform.’
As February 13th approaches and his performance will be tested, he’s tapering his training to ensure his body is rested and ready to go. He says it’s 90% physical and 10% mental throughout training. ‘But once the gun goes off, it’s all about you. It becomes 90% mental and 10% physical in competition,’ said Keflezighi.
Meb Keflezighi knows he has the talent to succeed and will always give his personal best to execute on his training. This has been a proven formula for him in the past. And in a few weeks, we’ll all get to watch as he races through the streets of LA in hopes of making his fourth Olympics team.