The Greatest Ambassador to Running is set to retire

While I was extremely fortunate to have safely finished the Boston Marathon in 2013, the aftermath of the terror attack that day on the running community and the country at large was utterly ground shaking.  The most sacred marathon in the world was brutually attacked, precious lives were lost, and innocent individuals were physically and emotionally scarred forever.  Fast forward to the 2014 running, the race was heavily anticipated from every angle; security, patriotism, the competitive elite field, and how the community-at-large would pay homage to the events from a year prior. While the outpouring of love from spectators that race was beyond moving, the hallmark event of the 2014 Boston Marathon was AmericanMeb Keflezighi’s heroic win against a stacked field of the fastest men alive with the names of the individuals who had passed a year prior handwritten on his bib. He was also the first American to win the race in 31 years. “As an athlete, you have dreams and today is where the dream and reality meet. I was just crying at the end,” Meb said. “This is probably the most meaningful victory for an American, just because of what happened. It’s Patriots Day.”

Meb Keflezighi, arguably one of the best American runners of all time, recently announced that the New York City Marathon 2017 will be his last professional race. “Twenty-six marathons for the distance,” he told ESPN. “And I’m also going to be 42 years old. In terms of running international, it’s 42 kilometers and 195 meters. So, 42 years old and 26 marathons in honor of the distance.”

Meb’s story is just as inspiring as the man himself. He was born in Eritrea, the tiny neighbor of Ethiopia in 1975, while the country was ensnared in a brutal 30 year war for liberation. In 1986, his family finally fled to Italy to be reunited with his father, who was sending the family money remotely. A year later, the Keflezighi’s began their American life in San Diego, cramming into a 3 bedroom apartment their 8 person family, a number that would soon grow to 12. His career began in 1990, where he was just another seventh-grade kid who had to complete the mile for a gym requirement. The expectation was 6:30 – Meb breezed through in a cool 5:20. At San Diego High, he won three CA state titles his senior year and graduated with a 3.95 GPA. While recruited by Harvard and Stanford, he chose UCLA due to a strong bond with the coach, Bob Larsen, who still coaches Meb to this day.  At UCLA, Meb won four NCAA championships and received his American citizenship in 1998. His professional accomplishments are highlighted with Boston and New York marathon wins and the silver medal in the 2004 Olympics. He’s the only athlete to have won both marathons and an Olympic medal. Perhaps most impressive is that, at 41, he is still one of the best runners in the world.

Outside of his blazing fast times and unwavering dedication, Meb has served as not only a leader for the running community but a pioneer for the type of accessible role model our society needs in our elite athletes.  His presence is felt in every corner of the sport: he reserves time to have genuine moments with every giddy fan; he makes himself accessible and present in community events and race weekends; his voice is resoundingly humble regarding his talent and proud towards his family, faith and country. His unswerving work ethic, attention to detail, and positive mental outlook have earned him due widespread admiration. Please name me one NBA/NFL/MLB player who you can say the same about.