If you’re not familiar with Meb, he is one of the few runners who has won both the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon, and medaled (silver) in the Olympic marathon. In his career, he has broken race records, run four marathon finals for the USA; last month he was Grand Marshal at the Boston Marathon.
Meb ran 26 marathons in his career as an elite athlete, one race for each of the 26 miles in the marathon. In each chapter he breaks down one race and relates it to a life lesson.
Some of the memorable parts for me:
1. After his first marathon Meb said “Never again”. Shortly thereafter, he was visiting family in Eritrea (Meb was born there and immigrated to America as a child). He saw the Eritreans walking miles every day to get clean drinking water. Seeing what they did to survive made Meb realize that the pain he felt in the race was nothing in comparison.
2. There are so many things that can and did go wrong for Meb on race day - food poisoning, running 26.2 miles with a Breathe-Right strip in his running shoe, lost luggage with all his gear, and so many injuries!
3. Meb’s strategy of setting multiple goals for a race. Goal A may be to win, however if that’s not likely, Goal B may be to medal or Goal C may be to PR. If that’s not looking good, Goal D may be to finish in the top ten. Ultimately the goal may be to just finish.
4. When he fell on the slick road at the end of the 2016 Rio Olympic marathon and placed his hands over the finish line and did pushups (he came in 33rd place).
5. His devotion to his wife and three daughters; the struggles of bringing in and keeping sponsors to make a living.
6. “Underpromise and overdeliver”!
Now that he’s retired, Meb still runs marathons - as a pacer, helping others to achieve their goals, or just in the pack, supporting the recreational runners. I was inspired by Meb; he truly is a class act.
In a running race there are no losers; as long as you are out there, you’re a winner.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Meb at a small gathering prior to the Chicago Marathon. He was a gracious and wonderful as you might expect. He talked with us about training and we got to ask him questions. I've read his other books and this one is on my lists!
ReplyDeleteMeb ran in the marathon in my city this past February. I didn't get to meet him, but everyone who did meet him talked about what a great guy he is.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it crazy all the different things that went wrong for him at his races?! Man, is he ever resilient!
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