| Running USA wire 91, November 15, 2004 |
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Return to top / Return to main page Meb Keflezighi Interview Post-ING New York City Marathon To say the least, 2004 has been a very good year for Meb Keflezighi: Olympic silver medal in the marathon (the first U.S. men's Olympic marathon medal since Frank Shorter's silver in 1976), runner-up in the recent ING New York City Marathon (best American finish since 1993 - Bob Kempainen, second) and last February's Olympic Marathon Trials and an Olympic Trials 10,000m record (defended title). Since 2001, Keflezighi, 29, a Team Running USA member, has also set two U.S. records (10,000m and 20K), won 13 USA titles (road - 9, track - 2 and cross country - 2) and helped the USA win a team 12K bronze medal at the 2001 World Cross Country Championships. In short, the UCLA grad and Mammoth Lakes/San Diego resident has distinguished himself as one of America's best distance runners and a world class competitor. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director, sat down with Meb after his ING New York City Marathon success. Ryan Lamppa: First, congratulations on your New York City Marathon performance. Unlike 2002 at New York, you exhibited great patience on First Avenue when the lead pack threw down a 4:32 mile at mile 17. What do you remember most from your 2004 New York City race? Meb Keflezighi: Thank you. The thing I remember most about the 2004 New York City race is when the guys surged at the 16th mile, I was hurting with a side ache...and hoping they would not make a move, but they did. I was faced with a tough situation. I reflected on the rookie mistake I made in 2002 and I thought to myself, just be patient and hold on to my composure and I hope I will eventually catch them. RL: After such an impressive year, how do you feel post-New York City? How would you describe your year? In hindsight, any surprises? MK: Post-New York, I feel good. I was really sore in the quads, other than that I would like to thank God for a great year and most importantly for keeping me healthy after back-to-back marathons. 2004 has been the best year for me in terms of my running accomplishments. It started with a bad flu that hindered me badly - where I considered dropping out of the Olympic Marathon Trials, but it was blessing in the disguise. It ended up my best year ever. Two outstanding 10,000 meter races (27:24 and 27:36) and great marathon performances: Olympic silver medal and a personal record (PR) on a tough course, New York. No real surprises to me or to the people who are close to me, like my family, coaches and teammates. When I was a sophomore in high school, Ron Tabb, a friend of mine told me that I would make the 2000 Olympic team and medal in 2004 and 2008 if I remain focused and not get side-tracked. So far all have come true. RL: How were your Athens and NYC experiences similar and different? MK: Similarities...both races I felt I was the underdog. In my book in both races, I was not favored to win or medal. However, I felt confident with my preparation for both races. Coach Larsen and I put in hours making the best decision for me to do well. The differences...in Athens, many people would not have picked me to medal. In New York, people were aware of me from my Athens accomplishment and would not be surprised if I pulled it off. In Athens and NY, one person in each race happened to have a better day. At the Olympics, Baldini run smart and made a decisive move (where his experience played a great deal). In that race I had the race of my life. In NY, Ramaala had an outstanding race; I almost pulled it off, but not quite. I was hoping I could pull my first marathon win. RL: You've been with Coach Bob Larsen since your UCLA days (the past decade plus). How important has been that continuity between you and Coach Larsen? MK: Coach Larsen is like a friend. I can talk to him about anything and I have. He is great guy and he is appreciated by me and my family (parents, brothers and sisters). The consistency of coach and athlete is paying its dividend. He knows what I need to do to get ready to race. Also, Coach Vigil has been a great guy to bounce ideas off. It is a privilege to have them both as mentors. As Team Running USA, we are lucky to have them. RL: Since 2001, as a member of the Team Running USA group with coaches Larsen and Vigil, Deena Kastor, Jen Rhines, Ryan Shay, Matt Downin and others, how has this group influenced your training, your approach to the sport? MK: The team has been a positive influence. It is like going to college without classes. Everyone on the team has been very supportive and we encourage each other to be the best. We try to have a positive outlook on our running. Mario Arce - who also has been helping me and the other guys on the team by pacing us in workouts on a bike and giving us fluids on our runs - has been crucial as well. RL: What's the best part of your training environment and why? MK: The best part of my training environment is to have teammates because once you leave college it is not easy without teammates at practice and not having a facility to use. For me, the OTC in Chula Vista has been a big asset to meet people from different sports and the facilities they have. RL: With success, of course, comes greater scrutiny and media attention. After New York, you were quoted in the New York Post as saying that you were "the greatest distance runner the U.S. has ever had." That doesn't sound like the Meb that I and others know. Here's your chance to set the record straight. MK: What does it mean to be the greatest U.S. distance runner? The quote from the New York Post was taken out of context. I never claimed to be "the greatest distance runner the U.S. has ever had." I did not say that. I said I am CURRENTLY the hottest U.S. distance runner. I have too much respect for the athletes who set standards for me and the rest of the distance runners. To name a few greats, Alberto Salazar, Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, Craig Virgin and many more...those are hard shoes to fill. I have been fortunate enough to meet most of those guys, and I'm still learning about the sport, especially marathon running. Let's not forget, I am still trying to get my first marathon win. Those guys have won major marathons and titles and gold medals. I have run well, but I do NOT claim to be the greatest U.S. distance runner ever. My parents, brothers and coaches taught me well not to claim myself to that title. People acknowledge your worthiness, because people feel you have accomplished certain things. People who know me as an individual or my background know that I would not state such things. I try to learn something new everyday. I remember when I was at UCLA I used to tell my teammates to teach me a word or two a week to increase my vocabulary. For those of you who know me, you know it is not something that I would say. For whatever reason, things were taken out of context. For those of you who believed in me, thank you for your support and encouragement. Do not believe everything you read. I have been in the sport for more than 14 years. I would appreciate if people would give me the benefit of the doubt. Everyday when I wake up, I try to be a better athlete and human being. RL: What's next for you - personally and athletically? MK: Next thing for me personally is to cherish this moment. It has been a rewarding year. All the prayers and hard work have been answered. Personally, I still want to be the same humble person that I always have been. I try to live everyday to the fullest and maintain excellent balance (M.E.B.). Athletically...I still have a lot to accomplish. I still have a marathon to win. I hope I still can improve my times in the mile, 5000m/5K, 10,000m/10K, half-marathon and marathon. RL: Finally, what advice would you give up-and-coming distance runners? MK: My advice to up-and-coming runners is to believe in what you are doing. Be true to yourself. If you believe, you can make it to college and perhaps the professional level. Keep working hard, but progressively. Do not expect results overnight, be patient. Also, remember you are pushing your body to the limit. Therefore, injuries may occur, if so, seek guidance right away. Do not give up. Remember, Run to Win, which translates to doing the best you can for yourself and nobody else. Return to top / Return to main page Media Contacts: RUNNERS FLOCK TO SIGN UP FOR
TURKEY TROTS AT ACTIVE.COM LA JOLLA, Calif. - (November 15, 2004) - A Thanksgiving tradition for hundreds of communities, Turkey Trot time is here again. Throughout the month of November, Active.com (www.active.com) offers one of the Web's best resources to search, learn about and register online for Turkey Trots across the country. At www.active.com/turkey, participants can take a break from the turkey and pumpkin pie and register for the Turkey Trot event of their choice. Active.com has joined forces with event directors nationwide to provide information and online registration for more than 200 Turkey Trots in more than 30 states. Communities are starting off the Thanksgiving holiday with a 'Race for Thanks' or a 'Gobbler Grind' to give thanks for good health and get the whole family involved in a worthwhile event. Many of the Turkey Trots raise money for causes or charities and also offer participants the option to donate online at the time they register by using the company's online donation service, ActiveGiving™. Using ActiveGiving, participants can make pledges online and even create personalized Web sites to start their own donation effort for an organization's cause. Training Peaks™, a partner of Active.com, also offers an online training plan at www.trainingpeaks.com/turkeytrot/ to help participants prepare for their upcoming Turkey Trots. To check out a list of Turkey Trots, visit www.active.com/turkey. Here's a sample: For more information, visit www.active.com/turkey or call (888) 543-7223. About Active.com Return to top / Return to main page Road Runner Akron Marathon Sees 30% Increase in Runners from 2003 to 2004 AKRON, Ohio - (Nov. 15, 2004) - More than 3,300 runners took to the streets of Akron in the 2004 running of the Road Runner Akron Marathon & Team Relays. That represents a 30 percent increase over the inaugural event in 2003 when more than 2,500 runners participated. "This year we had runners from 33 states and nine foreign countries participate in either the marathon or the team relays," said Jim DeVoe, Marketing Director for the Road Runner Akron Marathon & Team Relays. The most significant gains were in the number of Northeast Ohio runners; up 39 percent over a year ago. To no one's surprise, Akron area entries were up 47 percent from last year, followed by Canton which was up 31 percent and Cleveland and Youngstown entries both up 14 percent. Relay teams represented the largest increase in runners for 2004. More than 2,400 men and women were part of 486 (they were not all 5 person) relay teams in 2004. Women represented 41 percent of the relay runners and the men 59 percent. The average age of the women relay runners is just over 35 and 38 for the men. Marathon runners for 2004 were down by 17% percent. A total of 865 men and women were entered for the 26.2 mile race. Women represented 28 percent of marathon participants and the men 72 percent. Ages for both men and women were slightly higher in the marathon versus the relays. The average age for the women is 36 and the men 41. The average age nationally is 34 for women and 39 for men. "The increase in the number of relay runners this year, particularly those from the Akron and Northeast Ohio area, is great news for our sponsors," said DeVoe. "For 2005, we will work very hard to get more marathon runners to come to Akron and participate in what participants tell us is a great, well-organized event over a particularly scenic course." For additional information about the Road Runner Akron Marathon, or to register for the 2005 event on Sat., Oct. 1, visit the Road Runner Akron Marathon Web site at www.akronmarathon.org, or call toll-free at (877) 375-2RUN. Notes to Editors: Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Susan Reid/Audra Fleming, (800) 311-1255 TEMPE, Ariz. - (Nov. 10, 2004) - Jason Mraz will rock Tempe Beach Park when he headlines the second annual P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon post-race concert the evening of January 9, 2005. His performance caps a day that begins with the musical marathon and half-marathon road races that run through Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. Mraz has been celebrated as one of the most gifted young singer/songwriters to emerge in recent years. The Virginia-born musician spent his late-teens performing his songs on the streets of New York City, eventually moving to California in 1999. Settling in San Diego, Mraz became a leading light in the city's world-renowned coffeehouse scene. Word of his compelling blend of folk, pop, hip-hop and roots-rock soon spread, and in 2002, Mraz released his Elektra debut, Waiting For My Rocket To Come, featuring the hit single "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)." He is entering the home stretch of work on his second studio album, the eagerly awaited follow-up to his platinum 2002 debut. The acclaimed singer/musician's new set is being produced by Steve Lillywhite, who most recently produced U2's new album, and has worked with an extraordinary range of artists over the years - including the Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads and many others. Having earned widespread acclaim for his captivating live performances, Mraz has headlined a series of national tours, as well as shared stages with Coldplay, Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews Band, Jewel and others, playing over 200 shows in 2003. General admission tickets for the Jason Mraz concert may be purchased online at, www.RnRaz.com, or at the pre-race Health & Fitness Expo, which is open to the public, at the Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention Center Fri., Jan. 7 and Sat., Jan. 8. Additional ticket outlets will be announced at a later date in November. All P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona race participants receive free admission to the Jason Mraz concert. P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona is the fourth in a series of musical road races that feature a live band staged along every mile of the 26.2 and 13.1-mile race courses to provide runners and spectators with continuous entertainment. Each event is capped with a national recording artist headlining the post-race concert. Last year, the Grammy nominated Goo-Goo Dolls rocked the Tempe Beach Park party. Past performers at the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon and the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon have included Sugar Ray, Chris Isaak, Counting Crows, Martina McBride and Jo Dee Messina. Registration prices for the marathon and half-marathon will increase on Monday, November 15th. The P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon starts at 7:40 a.m., with the half marathon following at 8:30a.m., on January 9. Both races start at Wesley Bolin Memorial Park in downtown Phoenix and merge for one spectacular finish in downtown Tempe. Gates open for the evening festivities at Tempe Beach Park at 5 p.m. with an opening act going on at 6 p.m. Jason Mraz takes the stage at 8 p.m. All seating will be general admission. The concert location, located in downtown Tempe, is an outdoor venue with grass seating. To register for the race or for more information on P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona, visit www.RnRaz.com, contact Elite Racing, Inc. at 5452 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121 or call (858) 450-6510. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director (805) 696-6232, fax (805)
967-5958 |