With Meb Keflezighi’s final marathon as a professional on November 5th in New York City, we wanted to salute the American running legend. 

I’ve had the pleasure of covering Meb since he was a standout high school runner in San Diego. As much as Meb is a standout runner, he is even more outstanding as a person, and it is always special to spend time with him.

Why He’s The Best So what is marathon legend Meb Keflezighi doing on New Year’s Day? Running intervals at Fiesta Island. #HappyMebYear #keeppushing @runmeb

A post shared by Bob Babbitt (@babbittville) on Jan 1, 2016 at 11:58am PST

Enjoy this collection of interviews with Meb…

 

Meb Interview Filmed at Tri Club of San Diego, May 5th 2015

We called it Cinco de Meb & Bob since we were both born on May 5th. Meb takes us through his amazing journey – from growing up without running water in Eritrea to living on welfare in the U.S. to winning an Olympic Silver Medal in 2004 in Athens. His huge win at the New York City Marathon in 2009 came after a hip injury almost forced him to retire, and his win in Boston in 2014 is simply the most important victory for an American runner in our history. Meb is the epitome of the American dream, someone who came here at the age of 12 unable to speak the language and ended up dining with President Obama.

 

Meb at Tri Club of San Diego After Winning Boston Marathon, June 2014

Meb Keflezighi was about two months removed from one of the most important marathon wins in U.S. history in Boston. He took time out from his jam packed schedule to join us for a live Q&A in front of a packed house with the Tri Club of San Diego. We went through Meb’s life and all I can tell you is that at the end of the hour long chat, the crowd erupted with a spontaneous standing ovation. Forget Dos Equis. Meb is definitely the most interesting man in the world.

Meb Keflezighi Reflects on His Boston Marathon Win at Tri-Palooza 2015

We honored Meb Keflezighi at our TRI-Palooza Endurance Sports Awards Gala in 2015. There to present Meb with the Endurance Sports Athlete of the Year Award was Boston Marathon bombing survivor Celeste Corcoran. Meb gave a heartfelt and insightful speech about his Boston Marathon win to the packed house of 400 attendees. A powerful reflection from Meb on his historic day in Boston, and on how the race unfolded.

I’ve also had the pleasure of interviewing Meb on my radio show several times throughout the years. Here are a few of those interviews….

From January, 2017: It’s pretty simple: Meb Keflezighi is my hero, and getting a chance to chat with him about his amazing career and his plans for his last two marathons in Boston and New York is beyond special. LISTEN

 

 

 

From December 2015: He is a three-time Olympian and a silver medalist, plus a Boston and New York City Marathon Champion. A lot of Meb Keflezighi’s success as a runner and as an sponsored athlete has come after a lot of the experts thought he was in the twilight of his career. Not quite. At the age of 40 the ageless wonder just broke the masters record at the New York City Marathon in his tenth appearance at that race and he also took seventh overall. LISTEN

 

Thanks for all the wonderful memories, Meb!