by Larry Eder
Meb Keflizighi, running in London, April 2009, photo by PhotoRun.net.
Running negative splits, staying out of trouble, Meb Keflizighi ran the race of his career. He had already won a medal at an Olympic Games, and now it was time, after ten attempts, to win a World Marathon Major. This should give you a better appreciation of the importance of his acomplish mentffm….
We live in fascinating times. In a time when the Golden State of California has had challenges to its very core: the economic challenges, the challenges of running good schools on less and less money, and housing that is not in touch, price wise for many who live in the state.
Our is a country of immigrants. Whether like my family, who came over at the end of the nineteenth century from Hungary, or like Meb Keflizighi, whose family hails from Eritrea. Meb emigrated to San Diego, California with his family in 1987, after having spent two years in a boarding school in Milan, Italy. Meb is one of eleven children, whose father supported the family by driving a taxi. I first heard of Meb, when one of his relatives picked me up in a taxi at the San Diego airport and bragged about his fast nephew, Meb, who was going to be running in the Foot Locker that day. I remembered making a mental note about Meb.
Meb, like the rest of his family, has a prodigious work ethic. His eleven brothers and sisters are a the American dream-doctors, lawyers, professionals-they are what everyone in the world feels is possible
in our country.
I was at Stanford in April 2001 when Meb broke the AR for 10,000 meters, with his 27:13.98. He fought until the bitter end, not taking first, but making Abrahim Chebii run the then fastest 10,000 m ever run in North America. No quarter given, none asked. A brilliant cross country runner, Meb finished 13th, 14th and 11th in three IAAF WC XC (01-03).
In Athens, on a very hot and humid day, Meb Keflizighi won an Olympic silver medal. His race and tactics were brilliant, as he raced through the city of Athens, following only Stefano Baldini. Meb looked very good in the November 2007 race for the Olympic marathon trials, after dropping from the lead pack to eighth, with a stress fracture in his hip. There were times when Meb’s wife watched him crawl because the pain was too intense to walk. He considered retiring.
But, after a year of therapy, hard work and prayer, Meb raced himself into shape. On four weeks of training, Meb took sixth in the US champs last June at 10,000m. Then he ran 28:28.44 for 10,000 at the Memorial Van Damme meeting. After a 5,000 meters in 13:33.29 Meb came back and took second at the CIGNA Falmouth road race, the best performance by an American in years.
Word started circulating about his fitness after his 61:00 half marathon in early October at the RNR San Jose Half marathon. In NYC this weekend, as most eyes were placed on Ryan Hall, who is one of Meb’s training partners, Meb was able to relax.
In his eleventh marathon, in his fifth run at ING New York City, Meb Keflizighi had his master race: staying in the pack, he hit the half with the lead pack in 1:05:07. As attrition wore the pack down, Meb was there, watching his competitors, knowing that he had planned to move later in the race. About twenty two miles, the race came down to Robert Cheruiyot, four time Boston winner and Meb Keflizighi, Olympic silver medalist, but no marathon wins to his cv. Meb made the sign of the cross at just about the point that his friend, Ryan Shay had died in November 2007 during the U.S. Trials. Meb, very emotional, noted, “Ryan was never far from my mind.”
Just about twenty four miles, Meb made his move. He sensed five meters on Robert Cheruiyot, then ten, then fifteen. Over the last two miles, Meb Keflizighi left nothing to chance, charging to the finish, pumping his arms, lifting his knees. Just before the finish he rose his thumb in a sign of victory, becoming the first American to win the ING NYCM Marathon since 1982 and one Alberto Salazar. Meb ran his personal best in 2:09:15.
Meb gave credit to coaches Bob Larsen and Terrance Mahon. He noted how much encouragement Deena Kastor and Ryan gave him. Meb also thanked his wife, Georgiana, his two little girls and of course, his family and friends.
Good things happen to good people.
