Book Review: 26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career by Meb Keflezighi

I had planned on reading another book first but after listening to this podcast from LetsRun.com where they talked to Meb Keflezighi (interview starts at 51:28) I decided to read his new book first and glad I did.  So here is a short review and I hope it is enough to get you to want to read it.

If you read Meb's first book, Meb for Mortals, you learned much about what Meb did to be, and stay, a successful runner.  While getting some insights into his life from his first book most of the info was more directly running related.  In Meb's new book 26 Marathons:What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career he recounts the 26 marathons, yes his last marathon as a pro was his 26th, he ran.  While he indeed does recount the running specifics about each one, how things went and did not go, what is a greater takeaway from each chapter is what he learned about running and life from each.  These takeaways will be as beneficial to the recreational runner as it will be to the more competitive one.  We can all gain from learning the life lessons others glean from their races and there is much to learn from Meb's career

While I have followed Meb for his entire career as I have always admired how he ran, and where he came from, I really knew little of him other than how he got to the US and how a good, and versatile, a runner he was - that was about it.  One of the many things I have always liked about Meb is his desire to encourage other runners even while being a highly competitive runner - and you will see this in his book.  Often the career of a competitive athlete, especially that of the long distance runner, necessitates a level of self-centeredness but Meb genuinely seems to care for others and seeks to help them run and live better and this mindset flows through the book.

Meb reflects throughout the book how his philosophy of "run to win" is not limited to just getting first place but is seen in a more broader sense -  that of giving ones best.   By doing this, giving ones best, if one does not get first in a race, most do not, but runs their best they still win.  For some this may seem less than ideal for being competitive but as Meb shared, again, not every one will win any particular race but everyone can still learn something and in some manner win.  This is not the "Everyone get's a trophy" mentality that we often see but is more about how to have a healthy look at ones running - no matter how competitive one is.

26 Marathons starts with Meb's first marathon in New York with a 9th place finish in 2:12:35 and one that he initially wanted to be his last, thankfully it was not.  He moves though his other marathons and injuries including his 4 Olympic Trials Marathon Trials, making the team 3 times and his wins in New York in 2009 (Marathon #12) and Boston in 2014 (Marathon #19).  Not all the marathons went his way, or as he planned, but there was something to earn from each of them and we can learn from his lessons.  This also helps us to take a look at each race we do to see what can be learned from it and how it can be applied to running and life.

If you are not one to just sit down and read a book this book is the one for you.  It is set up well with each chapter being about one of the 26 marathons Meb ran with each chapter being only, at most, 10 pages long and flows very well.  Truth is you may find your self reading more than you thought as I did not want to put the book down as I wanted to learn about the next marathon and then the next.

Even if you do not run marathons, or run at all, I think this would be a valuable read as it will hopefully give you a great perspective on your running, riding or life in general.  I encourage you to get a copy and glean what you can from one of Americas best marathoners.

Other book reviews to check out:

• Run for Your Life - Mark Cucuzzella
• Fast After 50 - Joe Friel

Weekly RunDown #107

“But I also realize that winning doesn’t always mean getting first place; it means getting the best out of yourself.” 

Meb Keflezighi

Article I posted this week the distance that is best for you and not what others say is best.

This week's Interview Tuesday was with Jeff Rochford

iRunFar.com's This Week in Running: September 24, 2018

LetsRun.com's The Week That Was in Running: Sept 17-23, 2018

How many of us see rest s part of our training, I know I do not as I should.  So the question is "Do You Value Rest Days Enough"

Jae of the Balanced Runner shares some thoughts on Kipchoge's running form

Speaking of Eliud Kipchoge here are 12 reasons he was able to achieve his goal 

OutsideOnline speaks with Michael Joyner, a physiologist at the Mayo Clinic, about what's next in the quest for a sub 2 marathon?

A look at trio of Inov-8's trail running ladies

Last week in Weekly RunDown #106 - I posted a quote from Ron Hill, here is an article from Athletics Weekly on him as he turns 80

Here is more info on Ron Hill, a runner many I guess know little of

The Spartathlon starts today and here is the start list.  Follow the race live here.

Gwen Jorgensen's move from Olympic Triathlon champion to trying to make US Olympic marathon team in 2020 and attempting to win the Olympic marathon

Junior Katelyn Tuohy continues to run fast and would have gotten 2nd in the boys race

National Champions crowned at the North Coast 24 Hour Run

5 of Australia's Toughest trail races

Another top American women is out of Chicago as Amy Cragg withdraws from the race

John Fegyveresi looks at Spartathlon in his preview of the race.

Also running the race is Elizabethtown Kentucky's own Will Rivera who also ran last year.

Phil Maffetone looks at the Marathon Gene

Figured it was coming some time: Boston changes qualifying times for 2020 Marathon.  You had to be 4:52 faster than the qualifying time to get into the 2019 race so they are dropping qualifying times by 5 minutes. So for me who will be 60 it goes from 3:55 to 3:50.  I was aiming for 3:30 - 3:40 to be safe so no real change for me.  Some may not like it but with the BQ time not really guaranteeing anything tis will make it more real.

If you want the new BQ time how about running the Mt Lemmon Marathon in Tucson

A look at the 1930 500 Mile Peter Dawson Relay

4 lessons one coach learned from the Cross Country Team


Masters News
Mens 70-74 1500M at the USATF Masters Outdoor Championship in Spokane


Local, to Kentucky, Races and Events
(If you have a race in the area, including surrounding states, let me know and I will post about it)

Check out these Race Companies for local races: Good Times Even Services & Central Kentucky Race Management.  For trail and Ultra races in Kentucky and Virginia check out Next Opportunity Events

If you want to ride a Century then check out the Century, and shorter rides, in Campbellsville, KY on October 6th put on by The Spoke Easy in C'ville.  Register here

Need a trail race at the beginning of November then maybe the Jefferson Memorial Forest Trail Hillbilly Half in Louisville KY is for you on November 3rd, 2018.  I have only run out in the area once but there are some great trails

The Second Annual Harrods Creek Trail Bash 5K/10K is November 18, 2018 in Prospect KY

Also, check out the inaugural Falls 100 - also has a Half-Marathon, Marathon and 50 miler as well as the 100.

Want to run a great race then put the 2019 Yamacraw 50k (also a 20K and 10K ) on your schedule.  The race is April 6, 2019 and registration opens October 1st, 2018.  Either set your own reminder or have Ultrasignup send you one as I would not be surprised if this race does not sell out real fast as word is getting out about it.


Races this Coming Week
Spartathlon, Athens, Greece - September 28-29, 2018
The Bear 100, Logan, UT - September 28-29, 2018
The Yeti 100,  Abingdon, VA - September 28, 2018
Jangover Night Runs, Fountain Hills, AZ - September  29, 2018
Moonbow 10K, 30K & 50K, Cumberland State Park, KY - September 29, 2018
Amish Country Running Festival, Randolph, NY - September 29, 2018
Solang Skyultra, Solang Valley, Manali, India - September 30, 2018


Past Weekend Race Results
Vietnam Mountain Marathon Races (100k, 70K, Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, 15K & 10K), Sapa, Vietnam - September 21-23, 2018
North Coast 24-Hour Endurance Run (USATF 24-Hour National Championships ), Cleveland, OH - September 22, 2018
Cotswold Way Century, Chipping Campden, UK - September 22, 2018
Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line 100 Mile, Flagstaff, AZ - September 22, 2018
The Piney Woods Ultra, Tyler, TX - September 22, 2018
The Georgia Jewel, Dalton, GA - September 22, 2018


Spartathlon 2018 PromoVideo


A look at the 2018 Barkley Classic


2018 Solang SkyUltra Course Preview - India's only Mountain Running Event


Eliud Kipchoge winning a2 mile in 2012 against some heady competition


A look at the 2018 Badwater 135 race


Rory Bosio runs the GR20 Trail in Corsica - Running on Empty


Timothy Olson's run at the 2018 UTMB

Weekly RunDown #75

Meb Keflezighi

“Most of us have enough areas in our lives where we have to meet others’ expectations. 

Let your running be about your own hopes and dreams.” 

Meb Keflezighi

This week I interviewed Kentucky and Master runners Nelson Weaver and Dudley Walden.  Starting next week I will be doing the interviews on Interview Tuesday's.

Nice article on the Robertson twins, Zane and Jake, move to Kenya

Amy Cragg is looking for a PR at the Tokyo Marathon February 25th

Interview with Camille Herron: I was Born to Run

While I am entered to do the Tunnel Hill 100 this year it looks like they are adding a Marathon and it will be a certified course as well as a Boston Qualifier.  Should be good as very little elevation and also on softer ground but still a good surface to get a BQ on.  You can keep up on it being added on the Tunnel Hill FB page

I showed this video a few weeks ago of a talk by Eliud Kipchoge and Dave Bedford - Outside Online had broken out some of Eliud's comments in this article .

Outside also takes on the call for X-Country to be "more extreme" and "edgier."  I think this can go too far but being one who loves X-Country and would love to see it back in the Olympics I have to say the recent world championships I have watched have been little more than track meets on manicured grass lawns with a few hay bails to jump over once in a while.  I do not want to sound old but back in the day I remember running through mud up good sized hills and ealing with what ever weather came at you and little was easy or for that matter fast - it was just plain hard.  See the video below of the BUCs X-Country races in the UK and other associated videos as these races were tough.

How many of these National Parks have you run at, I have run at three of them?

I have only done one of these races - The Carlsbad 5000

I am currently reading Endure by Alex Hutchinson and here is a short review by LetsRun.com.  I am only about a 1/3 of the way done and it is a great book and is up there with Peak Performance by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness

Want to enter UTMB, or any of the other races offered, well here is how to register for 2019.  While there is a lottery to get in I do like this: "Riders who have been refused twice in the 2017 and 2018 draws on the same race may enter the individual race on the same race in 2019 without going through the draw provided that they hold the necessary points for 2019."

LetsRun.com's The Week That Was in Running: February 5-11, 2018

iRunFar.com's This Week in Running: February 12, 2018

Athletics Weekly's roundup of indoor track and other events

A look at why the creators of SFuels did so

The Training for Ultra Podcast talks to Yiou Wang, Cara chase and Jeff Browning.  Really like Jeff Browning interviews as always good stuff comes up.  Liked how he described his diet as he called himself a "flexitarian."  Diet section starts at 1hr 32min into the interview.

How many of these are on your bucket list.  Only one of them might be on my list, Great Wall  Marathon, but might try the Missoula Marathon one day

Preview of this weeks 2018 USA Indoor Championships and more on the meet,  in Albuquerque, NM

A look at the Tarawera Ultra

Want info on the Comrades Marathon then check out The Marathon website

A look at John Kelly's AT 4 State Challenge FKT attempt

Ultra Run MD writes on the 31 benefits of running 31 miles through the night

Emmanuel Bor becomes the 500th sub 4:00 miler


Masters Running News
Want to see what your age graded time is here is an Age Grade Calculator


Races this Coming Week
2018 USA Indoor Championships, Albuquerque, NM - February 16-18, 2018
Black Canyon Ultra (100K/60K), Mayer, AZ - February 17, 2017
Chabot Trail Run, Castro Valley, CA - February 17, 2018
Everglades Ultras, Copeland, FL - February 17, 2018
Jackpot Ultra Running Festival W/2018 U.S. National 100 Mile Road National Championship, Henderson, NV - February 17, 2018
Austin Marathon, Austin, TX - February 18, 2018


Past Weekend Race Results
Orcas Island 100, Orcas Island, WA - February 9-10, 2018
Louisville Lovin' the Hills, Louisville, KY - February 10, 2018
Tarawera Ultramarathon, Rotorua, New Zealand - February 10, 2018
Iron Horse Endurance Runs,  Florahome, FL -  February 10-11, 2018
Lone Star 100, El Paso, TX - February 10-11, 2018


A look at Meb Keflezighi


Meb's 2014 Boston win


Highlights of the 2018 Louisville Lovin' the Hills Race


Mountain Outhouse News (2/10/18)


BUCS Men's 2018 A Race


And if you want tough here is a clip from the BUCS Championships


From last year's (2017) Black Canyon Ultra


Story of another runner who went to Kenya


REI: How to Run a 100 Miles