Hometown Celebrity

Run Meb Run

With his historic win at the New York City Marathon last year, San Diego High product Mebrahtom “Meb” Keflezighi (pronounced Kef-lez-ghee) sealed his legacy as one of the world’s premier distance runners. He became the first American man to win the New York City Marathon since 1982, by adding a World Marathon Major to his Olympic Silver Medal and 20 U.S. national titles.
After fleeing war-torn Eritrea, the Keflezighi family settled in San Diego in 1987, living alongside Balboa Park. He captured two California state track titles while attending San Diego High School and was recruited to UCLA, where he notched four NCAA titles.
After moving to the marathon distance in 2002, Keflezighi took silver at the 2004 Olympic marathon in Athens, the first medal for a U.S. man in the marathon since1976, ending a 28-year medal drought for the Americans in that event. Yet until New York City last November, he had never actually won a marathon.
Happy Hour Magazine caught up with Keflezighi before his fifth place finish at the Boston Marathon on April 19. His next race will be at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in San Diego on June 6, 2010.
What’s your favorite Restaurant in San Diego?
It would have to be Donovan's Steak & Chop House in La Jolla. They have a great happy hour.

Where is your favorite place to run in San Diego?
I like to run down by the water, so I run a lot around Mission Bay. I also like the horse trails in Rancho Santa Fe, but sometimes they don’t allow you to run there.

What’s your favorite marathon to run in and why?
It would have to be the New York City Marathon. The crowd is fantastic; I have so many great memories from there. It’s really first class.

How many miles do you run a day?
I run about 14 miles a day.

What is the farthest distance you have run?
The farthest I have ever run is 26.5 miles.

Do you ever wake up and feel like not running at all that day?
I’d be lying if I said no, once every blue moon.

How did you get into the sport of running?
I wanted to get a good grade in P.E., for my parents a B or C was not acceptable so I always tried as hard as I could. I ran a 5:20 mile in Jr. High School.

Who are your inspirations/role models?
My parents are my inspiration and role models for life. I also look up to the running legends like Bill Rodgers, Greg Myer and Alberto Salazar. 

Describe a typical training day for you?
On a typical training day I’ll start with a 3-mile warm up. Then I’ll do a 10-mile tempo run at race pace or faster. I follow that up with strides, 8 x 100 meters.  Then at least a 4-mile cool down.

What’s on your iPod when you’re running?
Right now I’m listening to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”: ‘One shot, or one opportunity’ is very motivating. I also listen to traditional music from Eritrea. 

What is the most challenging aspect of running a marathon?
The most challenging part for me is to be patient at the beginning.

What do you eat the night before a marathon? Do you have any pre-race rituals?
I always eat homemade bread with honey. Before the race I like to arrive early and get mentally prepared.

Besides running, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I like to spend time with my kids, watch cartoons with them. I stretch a lot.

What would you be doing if you didn’t run for a living?
God created me to be a runner, but maybe I’d be a pilot or doctor if I wasn’t a professional runner.

What’s your greatest accomplishment to date?
Winning the New York City Marathon.

What’s your long-term goal or dream?
I have had a great career, adding a Boston Marathon win would be a dream.

What do you want to do after your racing career?
Be a better husband and role model for my kids. I might get into coaching because I like to write my own work outs. I will also do some motivational speaking, because running is so similar to life.

What’s your advice for anyone looking to get into running as a profession?
You have to be yourself and stick with it; I just ran my personal best at 34 years old. Remember there is life after running in high school and college.