219 | Meb Keflezighi | Boston Marathon Champion

Welcome Meb, to the PodFam

Join us as we dive into Meb Keflezighi's (06:30) inspiring running journey, from his early days in Eritrea to his legendary marathon career, including Boston, New York, and Olympic experiences. Discover lessons on resilience, training, and the spirit of competition that can motivate runners at all levels. Meb Keflezighi spared no details about his 2014 Boston Marathon experience, overcoming adversity, and inspiring millions. Discover the behind-the-scenes stories, mental strategies, and the true meaning of perseverance in this heartfelt interview with Meb.

Meb Foundation

Meb's Instagram

Guest Segment brought to you by My Race Tatts

During the Tros we are LIVE from the Millennium Running Cheap Marathon in Windham, New Hampshire after Six Star Erika wrapped up her Marathon and talking to many runners throughout the day (Episode coming on Thursday) and we had a couple fun appearances from Andy and DJ Darren Roy to cap off this episode.

Chapters

00:00 Intro - LIVE from the Millennium Running Cheap Marathon
06:30 Meb Keflezighi
09:29 Meb's First Marathon Experience
12:32 Lessons Learned from the New York City Marathon
15:32 The Impact of Eritrea on Meb's Running Journey
18:31 Meb's Boston Marathon Journey
21:23 Overcoming Challenges and Injuries
24:34 The Road to Victory
25:40 The Trials and Tribulations of Racing
28:27 The Impact of Loss on a Runner's Journey
31:31 The Significance of the Boston Marathon
36:19 Reflections on the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing
38:15 Preparing for Redemption in 2014
42:46 The Race of a Lifetime: 2014 Boston Marathon
46:46 The Emotional Journey of the Boston Marathon
49:55 Strategic Decisions During the Race
52:12 The Moment of Victory
55:34 Life After Winning the Boston Marathon
58:40 A Call from the President
01:01:46 Living the American Dream
01:07:18 Outro - LIVE from the Millennium Running Cheap Marathon

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Don't Fear The Code Brown and Don't Forget To Stretch!

Transcript

Eric (00:54)
What's up, everybody? And welcome to episode 219 of the On the Runs podcast. And we're coming to you live today from the Cheap Marathon in Windham, New Hampshire. We just got done recording all day with some amazing people who are running this race and finishing, including Wyatt and Kayla. And we had Jamie on. And we had so many cool people. Remember Paul? Paul left his headphones. Paul, shoot me a DM. But my amazing kick-ass rock star for co-hosts.

Just finished the race. What's up six star Erika?

very tired. I did not hit my goal, but I...

I'm so proud of myself. as you should be. And I am so thankful to have Tara here taking my place so I didn't have to skip out on this I'll tell you, podcasting was way easier than running a marathon. It is. That's why Probably a little more fun, too. You got to talk to some cool people. That's why I always want to do this podcasting from races and watch the runners. I enjoy the running, You guys have the best spot in the house today. It is facing the finish line, so you got to see everybody crossing. Yeah, finish line is right there behind the camera. I love

have a production with multiple camera angles. But right now, we're with you guys. One camera. ⁓ Darren Roy is doing an amazing job with the tunes and the crowd. And he's doing his announcing. He's doing a great job also. How was the start of your race, Erika? Let's talk a little bit about your race. ⁓ I had such a fun day. I really can't complain about not hitting my goal because this was my second best marathon. But the minute I walk up to the start line and stuff, I get to meet Kayla. Kayla's work out and Jamie Staton And they were doing some announcing.

and I got to talk to them for a few minutes. It was so fun to get to meet her in person. So Kayla, you made me feel like a rock star today, like a true rock star. And yeah, like lots of friendly faces today. Like Kat Brown was here, Sheila was here, Wyatt was here. Like I know I'm missing a ton of people, but like the vibes were high this morning. It was great. What was the wake up call for you? 530, which is not that bad considering. I mean, it took me a little while to get out of the house, but

⁓

It was like half an hour drive. I still here early. Did you go to bed early last night?

I mean, not really. think I was in bed by 11. That's good for you. That's on brand for me. Here comes Erika Sweat. there she is finishing the race right now. So we are at the Millennium Running Cheap Marathon. Erika, why is this the cheap marathon? Because if you sign up right away, it is only $26.20. And what do you get for finishing this race? You get a lousy ribbon, which is so fun. It is fun. Does it say lousy ribbon on the ribbon? It literally does. It says, let me grab

it

real quick and I will read it to you guys. Yeah it says something along the lines of like I just ran this race and I got this ribbon. my god was this lousy ribbon. Tara is here because she sub uh co-hosted with me today all day with these amazing people. You did awesome. Thanks Eric I love doing this so whenever you guys need me I am almost 99.9 % I'm in. Well we're going to need you in a couple weeks because we have some big news to announce in a little bit but Erika has the ribbon here show the camera. Here we go oh this is the one with the tie

Oh, I love it. I oh, no, just kidding. I ran a marathon and all I got was this lousy ribbon. There was one year where it said I ran a 26.2 and so like, but that is one of my prized possessions. So this is going to be hung up in my, in my metal room. I guess you could say my gym. Now, now if you run the half, it say that, but half marathon? Yep. Yep. I think there's is yellow. So it's a, it is distinguishable. Gotcha. New course this year, but same course. just in the opposite direction. You start on the Windham side and you

turn around in Derry where last year, last couple years started in Derry turned around here. Uh, great setup because of the area we can hang out in. This way better. This no more hill this year. Well, you, you say no more hill. Uh, this was little hill right here to the finish felt like a mountain. That's what a lot of people said. It was little bit of a doozy, but fun watching some people come across finish line and just be like dead. Oh, that was me. Yeah. That was you others. That was remember we had Sam, his friend wouldn't come on because he was like, I'm dead.

I'm dead. This is a... You're not alone, Sam. Some cool things about this. So this is a USATF certified course, but they had to get it re-certified. They just did a couple days ago. This course is ranked 6th nationally of the best courses in America to get a BQ and a PR. And I can see why. This is a very fast course. So if you like flat courses like I do, this is for you. So for all of you listening right now, because it's Boston Weeks, and you obviously know when you saw the episode teaser.

who our guest is today. This is a great course to come get your BQ first class event with the Millennium. Come here to get your BQ if you're really shooting for that. And that leads me into our guest today. Our next guest are Boston Wigs. We got them. We got America. We got, as I like to say, the white whale. The goat

He is so, so amazing. You guys this week we have Meb Kufleski and if you don't know who he is, you're living under a rock. I don't know what to say, but ⁓ just know that I am not cool again. Like I have no chill.

And I'm okay with that because Meb was absolutely amazing to talk with and the man understood the assignment too. This was incredible. All the stories. This is legit like six degrees of Kevin Bacon. We'll talk about that stuff after and just Podfam, we got a new one. Meb Keflezighi I can't say it. And I'm going to let Erika do the intros, but Podfam, we got a new one. Erika, send us away. We got Meb Keflezighi on the On The Runs podcast and we'll see you on

other side.

Eric (06:45)
Our next guest on the podge ditched his name into running history throughout his career while carrying the American flag after winning the silver medal in the Olympics, the New York City Marathon, and the Boston Marathon. More importantly, outside of running, he's a girl dad. He founded the Mev Foundation and he's loved by so many in the Boston running community after his performance that brought the city and its runners together stronger than ever.

Needless to say, we are wicked excited to welcome Meb to our pod fam. Meb Keflezighi welcome to the On The Runs podcast. What's up, buddy?

Meb (07:12)
I'm doing really well, Eric and Erica, and thanks for having me on the podcast. I appreciate it.

Erika (07:18)
Oh, the pleasure is ours, Meb. This is super cool for us because you are absolutely a legend in the Boston community and the running community at large. And I just have to say, I have a couple of stories that involve you. I don't even know how to go into this because I'm kind of fan girling a little bit here. 2018, after you had concluded your professional running career, you did the Burlington Marathon or the Vermont City Marathon. You were like the...

he was like the, ⁓ yeah.

Eric (07:46)
Like a keynote speaker or something, right?

Meb (07:48)
You know, we had a we a relay, so we had like, I think

it was like five people how to choose to be on the team and why. So it was fun. It was a really great time.

Erika (07:56)
Yeah. So you were,

you were out there in Burlington and I remember I was getting ready to run the race and I saw you having some ice cream at Ben and Jerry's and I was too nervous to go say hi to you, but I'm like, maybe it's just a regular guy. He's out there doing the things that we like to do. And you're just always so gracious with your time. Even just last year at the Boston run show, my friends and I saw you walking in the hallway, going into the venue and you stopped and took a picture with us. So.

Meb (08:05)
haha

Erika (08:23)
We're just super excited to get to actually talk to you this time and just get to enjoy you on the podcast. So thank you for being here.

Meb (08:31)
Well, appreciated for the memory lane, Erika. yeah, to be in Vermont and to have the original Ben and Jerry store. And that was a good sign of retirement. then, you know, as, retirement is right, you know, just to be there was amazing. I love ice cream. have sweet tooth. And then also, you know, to see you in Boston and, know, one of the best thing about runners is to meet and greet people and you hear stories when they started, how they started or what their next goal is. So.

Erika (08:34)
you

you

You earned it, Meb.

Mm-hmm. It stands out.

Meb (09:01)
So thanks for the memory lane, I appreciate you.

Eric (09:04)
What's your favorite,

what's your go-to ice cream flavor when you get Ben and Jerry's?

Meb (09:08)
You know, what I have now is I like my sister Ruth kind of introduced me to coffee lovers. So I love having coffee, ice cream. It used to be like vanilla or chocolate, but the coffee flavor is my go-to now.

Erika (09:15)
Mmm.

You can't go wrong with ice cream in general. Nice choice.

Eric (09:29)
especially Ben and Jerry's.

Meb (09:29)
Absolutely. It's

always the right time.

Erika (09:32)
Mm-hmm.

Eric (09:33)
It

is the right time. My boys say that all the time in the morning ice cream all the time, but Hey man, as Erica said, we're excited. I was jealous. I was in Mexico at my sister's wedding when she met you at the run show and I was getting pictures and I was like, ⁓ I'm here in Mexico enjoying my sister's wedding, but I could be in Boston to meet meb. There'll be another time, but meb we love stories.

Erika (09:51)
you

Eric (09:55)
And I love first marathon stories. You've had this amazing career that led up to your first marathon. You were running a lot of 5Ks, 10Ks, NCAA track. But I want to stick to marathons here and I want to hear your first marathon story ever. Spare no details. And I think at the end of the marathon, you're like, ⁓ I don't know if I'll ever do this again.

Meb (10:15)
Absolutely, no, but firstly you may need to know about my running story when I was in seventh grade to get a t-shirt and an A in the class that's how my running got discovered and then eventually I ran in five minutes and twenty seconds for the mile it opened a lot of eyes and including my P teacher and he goes you're gonna go to the Olympics but I've been an immigrant not knowing to speak the language or not know what the word Olympic meant I'm like, A? T-shirt and the rest is story but

In high school, people always said when I was running cross country, they go, you're going to be a beautiful marathon. I'm like, because I can say, I didn't have a kick, but I can maintain same pace for a longer period. And I asked her, how far is that? They're like 26.2 miles. Mike Anderson, Jason's dad, my teammates, tell me that I'm like, that's too far away. That's too much. not going to, you know, I'm not going to, didn't think I am that kind of two miles too long, five days too long or whatever. So I wasn't even thinking, but, uh, uh, so in 2000.

I made the Olympic team in 2001. I had the great fortune to break the American record in the 10K. So 2002 was an off year, not world championship year or Olympic year. So I'm like, well, let me see what this marathon is all about. I decided to, you know, unfortunately was in 2001 was the, you know, 9-11, which is a horrific time. And I did consider that because the nationals were, US nationals, marathon, championship was in New York, but I did not know, I didn't have enough.

Erika (11:30)
Mmm.

Meb (11:40)
time to train for it and I passed. And then in 2002, I decided to go for the marathon in New York and, know, Dina Kasser, who's a good friend of mine in Mammoth Lakes, were training, we doing temples, know, we 12 mile temple, 15 mile temple. I'm like, I'm excited for this, but how am I supposed to go all out for another 10 more miles when 15 was so hard? She's like, don't worry.

Erika (12:03)
That is the question, right?

Yeah.

Meb (12:05)
Yeah.

So she's like, don't worry, you know, with the tapering and the long runs, it all comes together. So I stepped into the New York, DCS, New York city marathon, which at the time was N I N G. But the race was stacked as always is and bring the best of the best in the world. And I'm like, well, coach tell me be patient 16th Avenue, Mark Carroll, another graduate from Providence from college days and who coaches at the VA performance. Uh, now he goes.

Let's take it easy. Take it. I was feeling great. I'm like, this is fun. I think I could win this thing. And boy, was 38 degree. I was finding how you remember all this details, shady and cold and whatnot. And then at that point, I'm like, get it down to four people. was got down to four people worse than area. I've got fourth place, which would be amazing. And best scenario, I still got a chance to possibly win. then from 16 to 17 and a half or 18, I was leading part of the mix. And then.

Erika (12:43)
Yup.

Mm-hmm.

Meb (13:02)
19 I was done. So instead of tucking in my gloves and my hand warmers, arm warmers and I threw it away rookie mistake. And then as we get close to that 10k, 20, 24 mile, Mark Carroll came, came by and says, come on man, let's go. But my mind says, go by my body says no way. And I said, go, you go. I, there's no way, there's nothing I could do. You go ahead. And then actually he put two minutes on me in the last two miles. So I had the war hard.

Erika (13:11)
Mmm.

it

Meb (13:32)
Tony Reves who has a great writer and news person said, it reminds me that was a 37 last 10K. So I mean, I had the world, my mind says go, my body says no. So I learned a lot what to do, what not to do on my first marathon. And I finished a race, which is amazing, ninth place. I ran 212.35, which is amazing, but disappointed at the same time because the Olympic age standard

Erika (13:45)
Mm-hmm.

Eric (13:54)
Not a big deal.

Erika (13:55)
you

Meb (14:00)
You have to run stuff to 12. So I'm missing by 35, 36 seconds. I'm like, why would I want to run another marathon to shave off 35 seconds? Sound like it makes no sense. This is my first and last marathon. And even my mom, my parents were there to watch me around and my mom was like, well, five K 10 K, okay, no more marathons for you. And then my dad tried to massage me to keep me warm. So yeah. And I told my coach that this is my first and last marathon. I never want to do it again, but I guess thank God for short memory.

Erika (14:02)
Mmm, so close.

So what were some of the big takeaways that you had from New York City when you finally decided you're like, OK, I think maybe I can do this again. What did you learn that you carried on to your next marathon?

Meb (14:37)
You know, talking to coach and talking to Tony Reves at the time that day is like, you put it out there, you went for the win, you know? And yes, I got deducted for not making sub to 12 for my contract. So I got 50 % of what I was supposed to get in appearance. But at the same time, it showed me resilience. And if I train right and be patient and don't make moves at 16 miles, make a move at 21 or 22 miles, things can click. And it was always my dream after that, when I collect myself or

Erika (14:47)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (15:07)
When visited Eritrea where I was born and saw how people live in day in, day out, just sunrise and moon, nothing else. That's sunshine, the sun, it didn't have electricity, no running water. It put it in perspective for me. was like, you know what? It was not such a bad experience or pain, discomfort. In fact, my teammate, Dan Nien, now from UCLA told me, no, you're not in pain. You're just...

Erika (15:21)
Mm.

Meb (15:32)
tempered discomfort for 40 minutes or 30 seconds. That put in perspective, decided, hey, in fact, I wanted to do Boston as my next marathon. I'm like, coach, I came back, I'm so motivated, let's just try to do Boston and try to win it or try to do really what body was. Boston and New York have very similar courses. And if you try and break 212, we need to put you on a flat course. And that happened to be Chicago Marathon in 2003.

Erika (15:34)
Mm-hmm.

Mmm.

Eric (15:57)
Erica's favorite. We talk about it a few times.

Erika (15:58)
you

Meb (15:59)
I know I was listening to

Alison, the coach, Alison, the coach. was listening part of that. You guys went back and forth of, ⁓ of your, ⁓ which one is a favorite. And New York is my first and my favorite.

Eric (16:05)
Yeah.

Erika (16:05)
Yep.

We were going to ask you about that because it's, ⁓ New York city is Eric's first major that he's run and he does not think anything can top it. And even though I've run them all, like they all have their redeeming qualities, but Chicago just, that was my first and that's why it has a special place in my heart. So we were wondering what you were going to say. So I'm, I am happy for Eric that New York city gets another vote.

Eric (16:10)
I writ-

Mev,

it's very hard for me being a Boston guy, huge Boston Bruins fan, by the way. And I know you're UCLA Bruin, but it's very hard for me to say that New York was like, I don't know how something else could top it. I ran it this last year, 2025. And I think Boston's incredible because it's our hometown in a way it's our home race and it's the oldest marathon of all time. And that's what this is about Boston weeks and your story we'll get to soon, but yeah, it's very hard for me to go.

Erika (17:01)
I

Eric (17:02)
But I ran New

York and then after I'm like, I don't know how something else can beat this. And I want to know you ran New York like 25 years ago and you're there every year. You work for the NYRR, you set the pace podcast. What's changed in those 25 years from your first New York experience to today?

Meb (17:19)
Well, I think the organization has changed a lot. And then also the marathon itself, you know, from like 40,000 to almost 60,000 is just change. But the same course, the five bros, I think, I love Boston. Don't get me wrong, but New York is, I've done it 12 times. That says a lot. I, in fact, I was talking to Eli Kipchoge this last year when he would do New York. And I tell him, I did this 12 times.

Erika (17:30)
That's a lot.

It does.

Meb (17:49)
one, two, like that many times. I'm like, yeah, why? He's like, wow, you know, and he was mesmerized with it because I love New York. I, know, I didn't see myself live there, but to visit, experience it is incredible. think that the crowd always, as you were talking to in the last podcast with Alison, mile eight, you know, the energy there, 10 deep, 15 deep is incredible. So that's an experience of a lifetime that, you know, yes, we get that also.

Erika (18:04)
Mm.

Thank

Meb (18:17)
when we go to Wesley College or Boyle Center and other Boston College and things like that. throughout the five pros, he experienced that. the crowd for me has been, yes, the crowd always grows more and more. And especially if it's a nice day, people watch from their condo or apartment and things like that. They have flags out and people scream your name. And I love hearing the crowd personally. So whether I pump my chest or give them thumbs up or blow kisses to them.

Erika (18:31)
Mm.

Mm-hmm.

Meb (18:45)
It's fun even though I'm focused for the next mile, it brings the energy is electrifying.

Erika (18:45)
Absolutely.

Eric (18:48)
Yeah.

Erika (18:51)
I agree.

Eric (18:51)
Let's go back to after

your first New York City marathon, you went back to your birthplace and that's when you had the whole, the story you shared with us about realizing, all those differences and you came back motivated. What was that time frame after New York to when you went back to your birthplace and coming home and talking to your coach about, let's do it again.

Meb (19:12)
Yeah, I mean, when I went back to Eritrea, was there, I believe I went with my mom for the first time since I left as a 10 year old. So 2000, I was 27, 27 years old. So 17 years, that's a lot of time, you know, some people that he knew are there, some people that he knew their uncles and aunts and cousins, and they're not there, then the military or they're passed away. So it kind of gives you a lot of your roots reflect.

And how fortunate that I am to do what I do. You know, I never thought running was a sport when I was there. What, well, how my life would have been. I would have been a farmer and ⁓ go without electricity, no running water. mean, life would have been completely different. So that kind of gave me the perspective that, Hey, wow. The opportunities that you have to graduate from UCLA and now help the family as much as you can. ⁓ you know, in fact, we helped bring that. And when I went, you know, we brought help some.

Erika (19:54)
Right.

Meb (20:09)
money to bring electricity to my dad's village at Duganbolo. So you have those kind of things. How can I do more the God-given talent that I have? How can I maximize it? And even though when I don't have sponsorship eventually and things like that, that when I would dry, I would always look back to that God-given talent. Has that been maxed out? know, going seven months without show contracts, not easy as a family's grown, but you look back and reflect, say, why did I want to keep doing this? Because, you know, we all have different talents and different gifts and

Erika (20:27)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (20:37)
Yeah, so that was a lie when went on in AirTrain 2002. And when I came back, I was, coach. And he's like, what's that to you? He's what he said. It's like, well, I saw how my roots was and how my uncles and cousins are living. I mean, I'm as American, I have a flashlight going through the like 10 PM, but they only had the moon. And I'm the mother one tripping on most. They were just comfortable doing whatever they used to it. so the labor.

Erika (20:44)
You

Mm-hmm.

Meb (21:04)
they have to put in and all that is what a marathon is. And I said, I got no room to complain, let's get to it. And, but I'm glad coach kind of convinced me. was, I want to this day, I'm glad he convinced the Chicago, but then I'm like, man, could I have one Boston with that motivation? Still think that in back of my head, because you know, I wanted that bad, you know, and you know, I even bought a house before I ran the Boston Marathon because how people measure you, if you are a distance runner or if you are a marathon, have you done the Boston Marathon? So I'm like,

Erika (21:23)
Hmm.

Meb (21:33)
Well, this house would be good because it's got some hills because all the stories that I've heard about Boston Marathon. So, you know, it's kind of journey.

Eric (21:37)
Yeah.

Erika (21:40)
Well, I'm really glad that the going to Eritrea sparked your fire and your love for running even more. And it got you to the place where you could finally run Boston. So I believe your first Boston was 2006. Do you want to tell us a little bit about how that went?

Meb (21:56)
I was fit, 2006 was amazing. think that's to this day. So, you know, going to that race, ⁓ second at the Olympics, second in New York, third in New York, like, man, I think I got a chance. I could possibly win Boston. And I was grateful for John Henga for being mean for that, ⁓ give me a crack. And then ⁓ Robert Chariot, ⁓ who was a defender, he has won Boston before.

Erika (21:58)
Cause yeah, that's post Olympics and yep, you had a really good Olympic year.

Right on.

Meb (22:23)
Uh, was in there and he, you know, there was another guy, which, uh, Lamo was in it. He took off like bad out of hell. So I'm like, I got it. If I'm going to go, I'm going to go. But, you know, I did rehearse the course previously. I went and visited in January, but, then when it came to April, was. Yeah. Yeah. was cold, but it was indoor meets and other stuff going on. So was the right time and, uh, and then run the, the course and segments. So you kind of get that experience and,

Erika (22:36)
Mm.

Eric (22:38)
Well, that's a good time to visit Boston.

Erika (22:44)
Mm-hmm.

Yes.

Meb (22:51)
Benjamin Lyme was the guy I was thinking. took off and John Yuda from Tanzania, which I didn't know later on, was the talk to told me that he was a Pacer. So I'm like, you know, Boston didn't have Pacers. It's a two peer championship, but he went with them. And I'm like, well, if I'm going to win, I'm going to need to go. And I went out. I believe I was 102, 45 for that, which at the time was almost equivalent to world record. Uh, and the hills are still waiting. And then at mile 17, I hit the wall.

Erika (23:13)
You

Mmm.

Meb (23:19)
just Robert Cherry came and took the lead and then I held on for dear life. But having the USA jersey is such an awesome moment because people were chanting USA, USA, come on, maybe you can do it. Going through it and I finished third. And then we had four people, think, with the Allen Culpepper and others in the top 10. So was a good showing, but I didn't get my goal, which was to win. ⁓ But I felt like, hey, if I could get other chances, I could still win it because

Erika (23:42)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (23:48)
I went out hard, wore record pace and died. And then if I could just measure, get it right, I have a chance to win the Boston Marathon. So that was the fittest I ever was for that race. You know, more so than 2014, 2010, because I've injuries and other things, but you know, it's not how fit you are, but you got to use that nine inch above the shoulder.

Erika (23:55)
Hmm. Yeah. The boss.

Mm.

Exactly. And the Boston course is so tricky because the first 10 miles are mostly downhill. So they just carry you. And if you're not playing smart, you're going to burn yourself out early in the race. then like you said, mile 18, 19, 20, there are those Newton Hills. And if you can't keep up, people are going to just drop you. But third place, I think that's an amazing start to your Boston career. And we know it gets better from there.

Eric (24:34)
But it did have hiccups though, because if that was the fittest you have ever been, 2006, for a marathon or for the Boss Marathon, you broke your hip, right? A couple of years later, before you ever won New York City or Boston. like you had to deal with, like some people might think I'm done. I'm past my prime. And you kept going. You learned lessons along the way in every marathon and you probably learned some lessons throughout that broken hip and your recovery and back to the toe of line.

Erika (24:35)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (25:02)
So yeah, Eric, think I even consider retirement, you're absolutely right. So third in Boston and then food poisoning in New York that fall, ⁓ everything's not going down. And 2007 now, know, being second to Olympics, third in Boston, second in New York, third in New York, you're like, man, I want that win. And what a better way to do it at the U.S. championship or the Olympic trials in November of 2007.

Erika (25:12)
Classic Code Browns. Yep.

Mm-hmm.

Meb (25:31)
where, you know, New York is where I started my marathon. I have a lot of following there. I'm like, I want to do this. And I did Famith Road Race, which is not too far away from where you guys are. And I was second place there, fittest summer I've ever been. Broke 28 minutes at the John Bonoist race, beach to beacon for 10K before Super Shoes. And it was amazing. So was, I was ready, but, and I was a favorite to win, but ⁓ unfortunately, ⁓ things don't always go as you plan or you think you deserve.

Erika (25:40)
Yep, yep.

Amazing.

Meb (26:01)
Going to the trials, again, I was 5 to 1 odd to win. And I remember Ryan Holt even telling me when I was training in Miami, said, like, I just want to be on that plane with you to Beijing, you know? So the workout that he was seeing with me was pretty good. then obviously the race, as an unfolder, was, you know, was sitting next to Ryan Shea going to the starting line. And we talked about how cool it is to own New York City with a police escort in us. It was great, you know?

Erika (26:11)
Right.

Meb (26:30)
It's like, my first experience was in Brussels, 10K, the police escort you. And then he's like, my first experience was in Mumbai, Kenya, when the war occurs country, the American bus was not supposed to stop. And then we reflect and this, and then we got back to our zone, listening to music. And then the race unfolded and ⁓ about nine miles or 10 miles into it's a quarter of course in Central Park, the ambulance got on the way. And then I got pissed. I'm like, hey Ryan, let's just pick up the pace.

at Ryan Hall that is and he goes, well, let's see what the next mile is. I think we're running fast enough. then if it's, we ran 4 48, it's like, yes, fast enough and whatnot. And then it's like, just should close the road or whatever. And we kind of talking this during the race. And then about two miles later or so, my calf is tying it up. I'm like, use Ryan Hall to get you away from the group. then they think came past me and then, ⁓ Cali Connuccio passed me. Brian Sell passed me.

Erika (27:02)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (27:25)
And I was just having a day. like, maybe they couldn't do the 10K. I could be an alternate get whatever excuse you can make. Talk to yourself and to get to that finish line. then with about half mile to go, this guy, Nate, Nate, I believe, can't think his last name right now, but he's having a puff. And I'm like, God, please let me beat this guy. And, ⁓ I didn't, he beat me and I ended up getting eighth place. then. Soon after I finished a friend of mine told me he's like,

Erika (27:30)
Yeah, yeah.

you

Eric (27:43)
you

Meb (27:52)
Do know what happened to Ryan? And I'm thinking about Ryan Hall. It was a misty day. Did he fall or anything like that? And he goes, no, Shea. I'm like, no, what happens? Like, he's dead.

Erika (28:04)
You don't expect that at all.

Eric (28:04)
Yeah.

Meb (28:05)
tears, collapse,

devastated physically, mentally, emotionally. I'm like, believe this. And then I tell how we do go look for her, for his spouse, Alicia Shea and kind of see what, ⁓ what we can do to help and whatnot. And then she was already checked out and, and Ryan Shea was my training partner in San Diego, in Mammoth and my defender on the, on, on, lines and all that stuff. So it was a, get shocked about that because it was tough.

Erika (28:09)
Yeah.

Mm.

tough day.

Meb (28:34)
It was really tough.

⁓

Eric (28:37)
You were really close to all your American teammates, know, Ryan Shea and Ryan Hall. I've read and seen stories about you and Ryan Hall and many races. Like you guys work really well together. You're not, even though you're racing against each other and your competitors, you're teammates at the same time.

Meb (28:50)
Yeah, absolutely. We're teammates. care for each other and, uh, you know, we reflect, you know, and, know, we, we tell our secrets or whatever that might be. It's like, may the best man win mile 25. But other than that, we're going to share Ryan Hoss has shared some ideas with me. share with him and it's that, you know, or Hope Pepper or Abdi or Dan Brown. And this, you know, it's, it's, fun to be able to do those things, but you know, on race day, you know, it's not only who can be

Fittest but who can make the right moves be patient. There's so many factors weather and So many things that can happen. So yeah, ⁓ yeah, we're tight bunch ⁓ Care for each other and we have meals together and visit each other's houses when we're mammoth and things like that it was pretty cool, but that so that 2018 2008 7 november was such a devastating moment, but you know my wife feared us and I even prayed and

Erika (29:23)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (29:46)
If there's silver medal at the end of my career, I'm completely happy with it. If the American records had ran, I was completely satisfied. But I knew internally there was money in the tank. It just did not go the way like my first marathon. It didn't go the way I planned it, but I know I was fit enough. And when we prayed about it, and I remember my coach, Bob Washington said, has been a pleasure working with you. I'm like, what does that mean? You know, is it over? we have all this. Yeah.

Erika (29:50)
Mm-hmm.

Are you dropping me? Like, what's going on?

Meb (30:13)
You know, uh, know in turn it, was more than the tank, but I didn't know what the diagnosis was. All that. was more, uh, the central park, how tough it was. And Ryan Hall ran out of his mind, run two Oh nine Oh three or something. And this, course it was challenging. That's why my head is hurting. I tried, you know, tried to do a formula and trying to do the softball, have people work on me. And then it was January 15th or so when I diagnosed as a public stress fracture. So it was, I went for a long time. I mean,

Erika (30:33)
Yeah.

Meb (30:42)
while I run, was like cricket, you know, and I could not get up from the street. Yeah. It was bad. It was bad. I mean, it's the longest time I took off. So I'm like, Oh, it must be that. must be the coach. do whatever. Like I said, talk to yourself into it. And then it was so hard to jump from the street to the sidewalk because that six inch, whatever, I didn't have the power to do it. But I remember December that year, I remember telling my brothers in San Jose that, Hey,

Erika (30:44)
⁓ and that just throws everything off, right? Like it just, messes up all of your gate and just throws you off.

Mm.

⁓ Yeah.

Meb (31:09)
This is the end of it. think I'm going to retire. So I mean, I'm to need the support more than ever. So those ideas that you mentioned, Eric did become a thought across my mind to retire and kind of be done with it. And, know, that was it. But I know as I, I once I got diagnosis and, uh, been a Nike athlete, I have to rush it to get back to the 10 K and try to make the team and get reduced and things like that. So it is what it is, but at the same time, a lot more great things happen since then.

Erika (31:31)
you

Eric (31:40)
Yeah. And let's get, let's get to those. So we'll, we'll talk about New York another time. This is Boston weeks and we want to kind of fast forward a little bit. You ran Boston. think Erica said eventually you wanted to run Boston, but your coach was like, no, we're going to do Chicago. Cause it's flat. You eventually get to run Boston. What was your first like introduction to the Boston marathon?

Erika (31:46)
you

Eric (32:04)
And when it became a race, like a bucket list race for you.

Meb (32:08)
So in 2006, think, like I said earlier, think your distance runners measured if you have done the Boston Marathon. I was a college student when I was a sit on the plane. I'm a distance runner for UCS. Like, well, have you done the Boston Marathon? I'm like, I'm a tanker guy. didn't even know what a ⁓ marathon is, but they're like, well, you got to do that and things like that. yeah, mean, race week or race, Boston is the...

Erika (32:22)
Mm-hmm. It's so iconic. It's the first one that pops into everybody's head.

Meb (32:37)
most prestigious marathon there is and the history of Boston, you know, sports. when you first time I went there, it's like, wow, everybody knows a lot about the Boston and what it is on Patriots Day on Monday. And they're aware, you know, they're aware about the Red Sox, Patriots or the Bruins and Celtics, but they also know about the marathon. So you feel very important. You feel that you belong there and you have your own day. So the festivity is, is pretty, pretty sparking.

Erika (32:54)
Mm-hmm.

Eric (33:06)
You weren't running in 2013, but you were there. What were you doing in Boston that weekend? Were you just doing like sponsor appearances, going to cheer on friends, going to just take in the experience?

Meb (33:19)
So yeah, that was my third of the time back there. 2010, after I won New York 2009, I went to 2010, tried to be the first American in a long time to win back to back. Obviously, I finished fifth, I believe, in that race. And then 2013, though, yes, I was there as a first sponsor for Palo Verde at the time. And I remember meet and greet at the Expo. And this lady told me it took her 22 years to qualify. And they're like, wow.

how meaningful it is for Boston and things like that. said, to this day, I don't know if she finished or didn't finish, but she was on the older side. Imagine if you are, well, she started running, you know, when she was 40, she was 62 or whatever. might be, so I'm not just, you know, so that's.

Erika (33:55)
Mm-hmm.

Eric (34:02)
Wow.

Erika (34:03)
She had the determination.

I'm willing to bet she finished no matter what.

Meb (34:06)
Yeah,

but because of the reason I said didn't is because of the Diabomamine. that's, yeah. So I was there and my, know, I think I was there in 2012, one other time for sponsorship as well. And then my good friend, David Khan was running for the Med Foundation and he said, well, if you're here next year in 2012, is, I want you to meet me at the Cisco sign and run the last mile with me. I'm like, if I'm here, I'll do it. And he was running for the Med Foundation. So I went there and met him and.

Erika (34:09)
because that's right. That's right. Well, hopefully she had another chance in 2014.

Meb (34:36)
Ran, walked, ran, walked. I remember if that's the hot year that was, even the defending champion just for, uh, Joffrey Mutai dropped out and I tell him, hey, take care of your health because he said, I'm doing more walking than running, but I'm like, don't worry. Even the defending champion, uh, Joffrey Mutai dropped out and he goes, so you're telling me I can beat him. And he finished the race. So that's kind of the competitive edge. And eventually it came in handy for me to know the course, every inch of it by doing.

Erika (34:40)
Mmm.

you

Mmm.

Meb (35:06)
walk and run with David Khan. And then in 2013, yes, I was there for sponsorship and appearances. And then I ran that morning for about six, seven miles or so. And then I let the guy even, had to do live TV interview with the police. said, let me, right by the Fairmont copy. Let me go across this way. I got to take a shower and come back here in like 12 minutes. Then he let me go through and then the race unfolded. And I remember sending a text.

How he got me a pass to the grandstand because I was watching at the lobby and then people asking questions. just like, I just want to be with the runners. I just want to see the runners. ⁓ and then he got me a pass to the grandstand. I was there for four plus hours. And then when the man came by, ⁓ Lily said the seaside member sending a text to Ryan Hall says, you know, I looked at time. said, we can do this. We believe we can do this. And then he says, we'll get after it. And he was Sarah's birthday. So they were, they were not there. They were traveling back.

Erika (35:41)
Yeah.

Eric (35:42)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (36:04)
⁓ and then I started taking notes how the spirit of the marathon uplifting camaraderie it was, and then I got called my good friend, Rob. He'll give me his jacket. I was trying to stay as long as possible, but then had an appointment at four, four PM, I believe. like two 50 or whatever was, ⁓ I left and I didn't even make it to the Fairmont couple. As you know where that is. So now that I got to the lobby, they,

Erika (36:19)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (36:31)
person, a friend of mine that was there telling me that, Hey, from John Hancock that, ⁓ you know, there's a bombing on Boyle's and I'm like, that. How can it be possible? There's no way. I left Howie there. There's so many runners. I could not comprehend it, but I cried and said that was it. And then that evening, I remember Bonnie Ford from ESPN asked me, what's your mental status right now? Are you going to come back? Are you going to be a family? What do you think? I remember telling her April 15, 2013.

Erika (36:39)
my gosh.

Mm-hmm.

Meb (37:00)
I hope to be healthy enough to win it for the people. So I said that I'll go for myself and the rest became a true eventually, but you know, to say that and then to overcome all the situation and how tight security was. remember going to the airport the next day, the 16th. People were searching me and kind of got a little suspicious of me and where are you going? I'm going to mammoth. They're like, where's that? I'm like, California. And they had the dog sniff and

Erika (37:12)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Meb (37:29)
whatever I talk on how my brother manage. I'm like, it's kind of scary here. One night just be yourself. Yes, be yourself and nothing to worry about. And then I went, once I went security and then all the runners are there, Oh, maybe it's here, whatever, taking pictures. So then person like, did you do this kind of thing or suspicious to like our hero? You know, it was kind of like matters of minutes. it was, it was tough, but you know, 2013 was horrific, but, you know, somehow some way we have to move forward.

Erika (37:33)
Mm-hmm.

Eric (37:43)
Right?

Yeah.

Erika (37:58)
Mm-hmm.

Eric (37:58)
So you, you called it out kind of that evening on ESPN. like, if I can be here next year and healthy enough to run, I want to win for the people. Cause you said New York and the Olympics was kind of for you, but you didn't want to do this for you. You wanted to do this for the city of Boston and the people of Boston.

Meb (38:15)
I remember I'm pushing Bonnie Ford can testify from ESPN.com. I remember telling him that I want to win it for the people. Somehow something, something tells you and he spit it out. mean, it's not like, yeah, I mean, it was a mobbucket list for a long time to win the Boston Marathon, how prestigious it was. But when I tell that to her, that's what it was. Yeah.

Erika (38:28)
Mm-hmm.

Eric (38:34)
So, Matt, what was that whole year leading up like then? You know, you said you want to win it now you're focused. got 365 days to focus, to train, to like talk to your coach and talk to your teammates about this is my goal. You had a whole year to focus on this. What was that next year like?

Meb (38:50)
I need 365 days to tell you all those stories. ⁓

Eric (38:53)
Hahaha

Erika (38:55)
Also, I'm going to take this opportunity to plug your book, Meb. I'm going to encourage

everyone to read 26 Marathons about your entire professional career, because you give so many excellent insights and stories into all this. I wish we could cover them today, but at least if they read your book, they can get all the extra insights into everything else. But yes, let's talk about going into the 2014 Boston Marathon.

Meb (39:20)
Yeah, leading up to the race, mean, ever since that April 15, you want to do something better. the mantra Boston Strong was alive nationwide. ⁓ I think people even the hat, the B hat, the strong hat. And then I remember just saying, you you pray, you really do pray. mean, I'm a Christian and man of faith and

Erika (39:32)
yeah.

Meb (39:46)
I'd be training in Mammoth Lakes as I see more deers than I did see cars. And I would do, when I receive something, I would say, God, give me the time to be able to do that, to win it for the people. And sometimes I want to say, want it for the runners, for the international and things like that. So you have internal dial-up constantly, but the hardest part is to stay healthy. How do you stay healthy? Because I missed 2013 due to injury, but I was like, okay, do you want to go back to that? Or I had other, even I have other.

offers on the table that I go to Boston or that I go somewhere else. But for me was, I remember telling the orthodontist It's in fact, I'll say, if I don't go to Boston, I'm going to regret it for the rest of my life. I've got to be there for the runners, even though other others may have been wanting me to be at their corner. And I have to pass on that. So visualization is important. I visualize myself and I did have a dream that it came down to Boylston to the, to the, to the.

Erika (40:29)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (40:40)
with another guy, another person. couldn't, I didn't, it didn't just cause it was, but I knew it was going to be like sprinting on Boston because so horrific happened. think my mind that was in there. And, ⁓ when the Red Sox won it, I was getting massage when they put the trophy at the finish line. I remember I was getting Gary Ackman, I was getting massage and I remember telling him, I want to do that for the runners. I'm on the table. have TV on. I'm like, you know, we watch TV or basketball or

Erika (40:42)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (41:10)
Sports center when we do when I get my massage and I said I want to do that for runners on Patriots Day So you have those constant dial-out with close ones? ⁓ But the race got had to unfold the way it will and I remember even Ryan Hall's like yes The energy is gonna be so crazy, know, it's gonna be like through the France people gonna come out How do you retain that emotion and things like that? So and it did happen and ⁓ I remember

Erika (41:17)
Yep.

Meb (41:34)
I was an hour, no details left, whatever you guys do. remember like about a month, a month ago now from my last long run Sunday, I was stuck in the snow. I was staying with a friend and I really thought I was going to die that day. It was icy, my car had a four wheel drive. It was on this side was the cliff on this side was his house. And then I'm like, it's that slid. And it took me like 30 minutes to move like

Erika (41:59)
no.

Meb (42:05)
four feet. It's like, I do it, I not do it, I punch it, I not punch it. I mean, it was something, the scary moment, the driver is steep. And if you do a slide and it's going to go, like, oh my goodness, what I do, know, hours an hour or something. Like for my last long run, my beautiful daughter Fiori was there, wanted to go see me run as, I don't know what it was, know, eight year old or something. And so to have that, she was not in car at the time. My friend was really walking her slowly.

Erika (42:06)
no.

you

Eric (42:13)
Yeah.

Erika (42:13)
no.

Meb (42:33)
to the deep sideway holding her hand in Suresh. But those are the things that preparation that happened behind the scenes. Really, I was freaked out that day, like long run. And I don't know what's gonna make even make this thing to that. So it was scary moments, but coming to the race, it wasn't the fittest I ever been, but I was probably one of the wisest at the time. I mean, I think to be two weeks shy of your 39th birthday and to be... ⁓

Erika (42:34)
you

boy.

Mm-hmm.

Meb (43:00)
the 15 fastest guy in the field. I guess the number one number two runners in the world. And, you know, most people have written me off because my 2013 New York City Marathon was a disaster, but it's because I was not fit. I had, I was coming injuries. So, and if I can go through that race now, I think, you know, I, I'm a Christian, so I wanted to have a picture of the four victims, Sean Martin, Lindsay and Crystal.

And by now I'm like, how'd I take it out and during the race, what am I going to do? But I'm like, you know what? Right with the Sharpie. Like if it's like map, just write Sean, Martin, Crystal, and Lindsay. But then I'm like, the sponsor is going to get pissed again or whatnot. I can't do that. So I just wrote them with a sharp on top of each corner. And, then Mary Kay from, ⁓ John Hanka at the time, Owen Viro. And it's, it's crazy because, you know, before I go through the race, remember.

meeting Martin Richards family and I gave him a hug and my wife was there, Donos, and we gave him a hug and says prayers and hugs. If there's anything I could do, please reach out to me. And then Dave McGivory was walking with me from the charity team celebration that Saturday night, I believe, to Fairmont Copley. so what's your goal on Monday? I'm like to win. And I'm as simple as that. I'm going to go for it. then

Erika (44:21)
Okay.

Meb (44:25)
As a race unfolded, like I said, the victim's name and then my coach Bob Larson was there. ⁓ he says, you know, you can run two six, two seven on this course. said, yes, coach. believe that if you tell me that 2006, I would have believed you by now. I'm eight years later. I don't know if this is going to happen or not, but don't worry. I them, don't worry. You're not going to see me in the lead into the last five K. I'm going to make my move in the last five K, but I was Ryan Hall and I discussed that it's going to be the motion, the motion to have it.

Erika (44:36)
Mm-hmm.

You

Meb (44:52)
Once the starting line going, mean, I was in the zone. I mean, I was, I said, why not me? Why not me? He's going to, know, and, and once the race goes five miles into the race, I bumped into Lalisa De Sisa and then they were trying to, the Kenyan city people were trying to slow it down. I said, my goal is to win top three or run a personal best. If I'm going to do that, go for it, risk it. And then they let me have a gap. And then Joseph Aboit went with me and at eight miles, I told him like, what are they doing? How come they're not following us?

Erika (44:58)
Mm-hmm

Mm-hmm.

Meb (45:22)
whatever you didn't, you know, and then just kept going and going and mentally I'm saying you making the biggest mistake of your life. mean, I am New York champion. am a silver medalist. You know, I think I have the credentials, a lot of self-talk. And then I don't remember going to the halfway point, as you guys know, the rowdy, the crowd and Wesley College. I don't remember the halfway point. I asked Joseph Boyd, I said, do you remember what our split was? says, no. And I looked at my watch, it was 13.9.

Erika (45:32)
Mm-hmm.

Yep. the scream tunnel. Yeah.

Meb (45:51)
I know what Boston isn't about the time because you know, when you're the lady, you to say, kind of maintain the space. I'm at the halfway mark, kind of engage a little bit. Says where your, your fuel is and why, you know, give you an idea of where you are. And I didn't remember. So at that point I'm like, you know what Boston's about title anyway. So don't worry about the time, just compete and what, and then just for a boy bump into me, I'm 14 and a half or so. And then I said, no, no, he's getting fatigued. So I know the courses where the hill is common.

Erika (46:20)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (46:20)
I'd

rather be by myself than having him next to me and trying to get me out of my comfort zone. So I made a move that 520 mile that I told you, a mile 16, I believe that came out 432 or 437. And I knew then that I have the crowd behind me and people, as soon as I made the fire station churn, people were doing the waves chanting USA, USA, MEV, MEV. I'm like, USA. I'm like, concert's on the raising, you can do that later.

Erika (46:46)
You

Meb (46:47)
It was so hard because it was, mean, they would do the waves as you go by in San Jose, USA. It was, I mean, it was incredible. I'm trying to put in words, but it was nothing like it.

Erika (46:51)
Mm-hmm.

Eric (46:51)
Yeah.

Erika (46:55)
You're giving

me goosebumps, Meb. I ⁓ remember this. I watched it on TV, and it's all coming back, and I'm getting the feels again. It's hitting me. So keep going, keep going.

Meb (47:00)
No.

Eric (47:09)
You know, I will mention one thing. You, you mentioned Dave McGilvery. had him on a while ago and he told us that story about Saturday night. He talked to you and you kind of told him your plan and someone said to him on a news TV camera, like the race morning, who do you think's going to win? And he said, Meb's going to win. I just know it. I know what I talked to him. I feel it. He said, Meb's going to win. He called it before you, towed the line and.

Erika (47:16)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (47:35)
And I must give props to Dave McGivory who was on the the moped next to me or just ahead of me, but also Greg Myers, the last American to win. He always wanted, he always told us, Hey, go get it, get it done. I don't want to be the last American to be known to win it. So he really had wanted us to do that. And then that morning he did say, you're the smartest guy out there, go get it done. I remember that's the one thing that he told me. and anyways, I'll hopefully I'll end up with him when he meet me at the finish line, but

Yeah. mean, going through the race and not as you guys know, or the listeners, Boston is point to point course. don't have a lot of things to say how things are going. don't have a chance to engage how far you are. We just look at the watch and it kept moving. And then I, it was really wise to have a smart watch to be able to just say, I'm five, four, five, four 57, whatever maintaining that pace. So you're not like going out of your capabilities.

Erika (48:30)
Mm.

Meb (48:31)
So that was comforting to know but then but you don't know how many of those guys are coming to chase you They have no idea that is happening. So you just get pushing and pushing and I had a vision it was gonna come to Boylson and then something told me my 5k to go look to the right and I looked at right I just saw an orange shirt. I have no idea who was what the credential is and I'm like, ⁓ I'll let it for 23 miles now. I'm about to get caught So like what I do what I do like my mind is like three things came to option as like save it for Boston Street

Erika (48:48)
Mm-hmm.

no.

Meb (49:00)
or trying to maintain the gap or try to extend the gap. are the three things. So, and then you got to be quick on your feet, literally and figuratively. I, but I mean, you gotta be quick. And then I just says, you know what, if he catch up to me, as you guys are runners know that you have the, they have the mental edge over you. They caught up to you. They worked hard. So that's a scratch that plan to try and save it for both. just now trying to maintain the gap or trying to extend the gap as much as he can. So I was moving and moving mechanics, mechanic. do all those.

Erika (49:06)
Yeah, it's very strategic. Not that I know. I'm not fast like that, but I can just imagine what's going through your head.

Yes.

Meb (49:30)
Coach Larsen would say, I never seen anybody as dedicated as you to do all those small things. And I said, just discipline chin, chin up, move the arms, the hand opposite hand, opposite leg, opposite hand. But only very few people don't leave any detail here is people don't know is I was struggling when I had about 14 or 13 miles with my foot issue that I had the breathe right thing.

is reacting again. So I'm getting really my left foot, if you take closely, I'm favoring it. So I'm in torture. At one point I'm like, I should just drop out, but I'm in the lead. It's when the crowd is turning on, you can't do that. But I was that much more in pain. So as that happens, I'm being very uncomfortable about mechanics, mechanic, just try to land it, not on it, but try to try to land around it. So as the race unfolds, gets closer and closer and

Erika (49:57)
Mm-hmm.

Mm.

Meb (50:22)
At mile 24 now, feel like, you know, if he was feeling good, he would be next to me, but he must be hurting. So I'm pushing my body to the limit. No details left. I, I held in my vomit like this. I was going to throw up, but I can't go to throw up like this. just got to swallow my own vomit and then just keep going. I you guys should not listen. I wish you could see Eric's face eyes right now. As I say that.

Erika (50:35)
⁓ that is not an easy thing to do. my gosh. Yup.

Eric (50:44)
Puking rally

is what you did, you did a puking rally.

Meb (50:47)
Yeah, so I did that. And then finally that Cisco sign cannot come fast enough. I've been looking for it for a long time. And, ⁓ I, as I pushed that, I'm like, okay, the guy, I don't even know who he is. ⁓ if he was feeling good, he would have caught up to me. He must be hurting. So I'm willing to hurt a little bit more than him and kept pushing and pushing. And there was one sign that says one K to go as we go. I'm like, okay, chin down, lean forward, gravity, gravity, that one case sign pissed me off a little bit because.

Eric (50:51)
Yeah.

Erika (51:06)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (51:16)
we Americans like to go by mile and the canyons go by kilometers. And usually it's three minute, three minute of pain for them for how long it's going to take them to run a one K. And I'm like, it's three minutes pay for you. Even though that sign is there, I'm not happy about it. Just keep dealing with it. And then going up the ramp, just like quick feet, quick feet, more arm action. Now her first comment as you make the turn, take straight tangent. Don't try to go one side. like aim for Boston street diagonally.

Eric (51:20)
Yeah.

Meb (51:44)
and sprint as hard as he can by the time he turns to make the gap look bigger and hopefully he will give up. And I did not know in hindsight that he was looking back. So I'm just going forward and more and I like him making left on balls and I just crossed myself. I'm like, I can't believe this is happening. Thank you God. I don't pull a hamstring. If I move faster, the police going to escort me to go faster. If I slow down, they're going to slow down. So I'm like, use them as a pacemaker. Just keep pushing and pushing and pushing.

Erika (52:11)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (52:12)
What an honor and delight it was to lead the 36,000 people who wanted their revenge back to Boston Street and chant USA, USA. The crowd was phenomenal. People were down their feet and it gave me a great honor to be the first American to win it in 31 years on the most important day of returning to Boston.

Eric (52:31)
Wow.

Erika (52:31)
couldn't

have picked a better day to get you a win for America, for Boston. Honestly, it's, I'm speechless. Magical, that's the word.

Meb (52:40)
It magical. was magical. know, the

⁓ miracle in the ice, the hockey team, that's kind of similar story to that. That's the miracle on Ballston Street.

Erika (52:50)
Miracle on Boylston.

Eric (52:52)
Yeah.

What a, what a story. What a, like that was so fitting and I just love how you manifested it from a year later, from a year earlier. And it, you made it happen. You, you like, you believed in it. I feel like you, you know, believed you could do this. You could do it for the people and you did it for the right reason because you didn't want to do it for you. You wanted to do it for the city of Boston and for the country and for all the runners in the community. And I think that's kind of what, what did it. It's just like you, you like.

Erika (53:01)
Mm.

Eric (53:19)
Three more minutes of pain. can do a little more pain than the guy behind me. It's just three more minutes. So you, you freaking did it. That was incredible. I want to know what happened after, what was the after effects in the minutes, the hours, the days, even the weeks after the Boston marathon that you got to experience for winning the winning, not just the boss marathon, but that race in particular.

Erika (53:22)
Three more minutes.

Meb (53:43)
My life changed. My life changed as soon as I crossed the Boston Marathon. mean, my life was impacted by winning the Olympic silver medal, by winning New York, going on David Lerman and all that. But once I won the Boston Marathon, and I should give credit to Jack from Alabama, you know, and a few people came and prayed for me the night before. ⁓

I had my medals, two medals with me and they said safe race for everybody, but would love to see another medal, victory medal, in, in tomorrow for meb and, ⁓ Aerosmith I think had a song about Boston or something. David Khan also sent me a video. He said, if you win tomorrow, the whole nation is going to be behind you. And it says it's going to be, we're going to be plaster all over. And for my 40th birthday, eventually he gave me all that.

Erika (54:15)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (54:39)
top magazine, not top magazine, top newspapers frame with my picture in it and the cover ⁓ of the front page, not the sports section, but the front page and how big it was. And so once across the finish line, you you get a lot of strict rules and my wife did not follow that. She came straight at me and gave me a hug or talk on me. And I'm like, was afraid, I was afraid I would try and go forward. And then I wasn't expecting that. ⁓

Erika (54:43)
Mm-hmm.

That's amazing.

Eric (54:49)
Yeah.

Erika (54:59)
Can you blame her though?

Meb (55:07)
but it was a magical moment and my coach was there, Bob Larson, and it went to tears how he was there, how he did not, he was optimistic, but at the same time he got away until across the finish line. I always say, you gotta go past the finish line. And it was amazing. And it hit me when Greg Myers were giving me a hug and they said, you're a 2014 Boston Marathon Champion. Then I just went to tears because you have the dreams, see, but I even thought.

Erika (55:32)
Mm-hmm.

Meb (55:34)
How I was thinking of that and you have all those miles, all those, just, you know, like I never done Ironman, but when they call person, you are an Ironman. And when they said, you are the Boston champion, I just broke down and I cried historically. And then the other thing is when the national anthem played, it broke down to tears again. So it was a moment of a lifetime. It's hard to talk about it.

Erika (55:45)
Mm-hmm.

you

Meb (56:03)
still getting a little bit choked up, but you put your heart and soul to it. And when it comes, it's still, I mean, what, 12 years later still crying about it. You know, it's so.

Erika (56:05)
Mm-hmm.

Yup. It was so evident

that you left everything out on that course, that you were doing it for the victims. You were doing it for Boston, for America. And I am just so incredibly proud of you for bringing it home. I think it's incredible. And I know that you're a very humble person and you don't typically, like you wouldn't typically say, I'm going into this to win, but you had the whole, you had everybody on your, on your side and

Meb (56:15)
Yeah, yeah.

Erika (56:39)
I'm so happy that you were able to make that happen. You worked so incredibly hard for it.

Meb (56:44)
Appreciate it. means a lot. you know, you put your heart and soul to it. Some things and when they go out there, they're phenomenal. And sometimes they don't, but, um, yeah. So after the race, celebration was big and some were just candid. I mean, you have power bar. want to use it. My lower, lower reef, uh, gold wreath and, and that stuff. And people want to come and visit. then, um, a couple of things, uh, the next day was crazy media day. And, um,

Erika (56:47)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Meb (57:14)
Howie, poor Howie, the USATF, United States Track and Field, and the United States alone can be committed to calling them to say how to get in touch with MEV. says, you got to call this number. They're like, the White House trying to reach you and it's going to be an unknown number. You're to get a call from unknown number from eight to noon. And so we were ready to do FaceTime with the Canadian channel. And then the call came and ⁓ the White House President Barack Obama, he was on Air Force One and on the way to Japan, I believe. ⁓

Eric (57:25)
Ha ha!

Erika (57:26)
White out.

Eric (57:42)
That's so cool.

Meb (57:44)
How we actually we actually phones he's gave you know, gave me his phone I gave him my phone and that was not gonna happen the call which in hindsight I wasn't recorded there. I wish it was recorded about we're not we're not too quick on outfit on that day ⁓ Overwhelmed maybe but then this is the commander of Air Force one is this metka Flesky? I'm like, yes it is and so well, I'll be transferring to the president now like my gosh what I say what I say, know and

Erika (57:47)
you

You

Meb (58:10)
I was nervous and I'm like, hello, Mr. President, how are you? And he's like, I'm fine, I'm fine. Well, I wanted to call and say, congratulations on job well done. made America proud. You made us all proud. Job well done. And we start for about close to four minutes or so. And then he goes, we'll be in touch. And I said, man, that sounds like a politician. I don't know if I'm going to hear from you again, but he lived up to his words. And then eventually in the summer, he invited me and a guest, which I took my wife.

to go to the White House to have a dinner at the US and African leaders summit dinner. And it was, we were on the head table with him, ⁓ which we didn't know. And then as we go into all the security and all that stuff, and as we go, and then he tell me, he used a boss of marathon at the correspondence dinner, and you guys can look it up, and then he used me and.

He goes, do you know what I said? I said, yes, Mr. President. He said, I used it at the corresponds dinner. I'm like, yes, Mr. President. He's like, do you know what I said? Yes, Mr. President. He still told me that joke. And it was fun and everybody's laughing. And then firstly, Michelle Obama is like, you got to be sitting at our table. But I she was talking to the person behind us, behind my wife and I. then as we look for table 25, we look in table 25 and it was down the table 25. And it goes, do you know what table 25? Oh, table 25 is this. We asked some people and it's like,

Erika (59:12)
you

Eric (59:13)
That's awesome.

Erika (59:21)
you

Meb (59:32)
That's the head table and then President Obama and first let Michelle Obama sit in here and then on that table there was about 15 of us maybe and the President Jimmy Runner who was a runner was there and it was such an amazing moment. So my life did change from humble beginning of Eritrea, no electricity, no running water to having a White House dinner with the two presidents.

Eric (59:53)
That's so cool. I love that guy. He's such a, ⁓ man, I would love to have a beer with him. that some, sometimes it's like, who would you like to have a beer with? And there's on a small list he's on it for me. And I just want to say like, there's the picture behind you and you have the American flag draped around over your shoulders. And you, mentioned the miracle and ice, but I just feel like you've lived the American dream. So many people have this American dream when they came to this country.

Erika (59:54)
What a journey.

⁓

you

Eric (1:00:21)
years ago and your family came to this country for this American dream and you live this American dream and you got like, there's no one better, I think, in to represent the country in that moment in 2014 and to have everyone chanting USA and to have all those pictures of you with that flag draped over your shoulders. I know you had it in the Olympics, you had it in New York, but that moment was just something special and you, have lived.

that American dream and I think you've inspired so many others out there as well.

Meb (1:00:49)
Well, thanks Eric and Erica. It's been my passion of mine to represent the United States at the highest scale possible ever since high school wearing that San Diego high UCLA jersey or, you USA or like New Balance living as a 50 year old being ambassador for New Balance is huge for me and living the American dream. And that photo was taken, was given to me at the charity team dinner by Susan Hurley, who no longer with us or passed away. That's a reminder of me for, you know.

Erika (1:01:14)
Mmm.

Meb (1:01:18)
that you belong in Boston, Boston is indebted to you for a long, long time. as I was, so that's this, I love representing the United States from the Pan Am games to the, I mean, Goodwill games to World Cup in Brazil and Madrid or to the Olympics or when in Boston or New York when I did, and I take pride in that. so that.

It's the climax of my career. It's the most meaningful victory that I ever encounter. It still is my PR, by the way. Not many people know that, but I accomplished all those three things that day and, and it got, God will. It is not in my power to do that. just, he chose me for a reason. And I know I was on this earth to be impactful or influence people through sport of running. And I take that to heart. And I remember the day I was leaving Boston after I won, I think we were going to New York for some more media stuff.

somebody recognized me at the airport and he says, met as long as are in Boston, you should never have to buy a beer. So, yeah, yeah. You know, and that's what Boston is. But whenever I see them, they always say, thank you for what you have done. And it's not even congratulations. they're congratulating silver, congratulating New York, but Boston is different. And they always say, thank you for winning.

Erika (1:02:24)
That should stand, yes, to this day.

Just a little bit.

Eric (1:02:42)
Well, if I ever run into you in Boston, I'm going to buy you a beer. Yeah. This has been absolutely incredible. We got two final questions we got to ask you real quick. asked every guest this. So I just want to say like, welcome to the pod fam. This whole entire poster here you might see that's our whole entire pod fam from the first hundred episodes. You're a huge part of this for us. Thank you so much. But we have two final questions and thanks to my race, Tatch for.

Meb (1:02:45)
Alright, it's on.

Erika (1:02:45)
Beer's on us. Beer's on us for sure.

Meb (1:02:53)
Hmm.

Awesome.

Eric (1:03:08)
providing these questions for us. Erica, I'm gonna let you go first.

Erika (1:03:12)
Okay. So Meb, we have created this amazing Spotify playlist that we like to share with our listeners and we like to add just anything uplifting or something that gets you moving, gets you on your feet. Is there a song that you would like to add to this playlist?

Meb (1:03:27)
Yes. Uh, even though he's a Detroit person, Eminem one shot, one opportunity. think about a lot actually when I train and then the other one is New York, New York, Jay Z and, uh, yeah. So I think it's, it's, it's excellent ones. So I use them as a visualization. I, when I train and all those things. So music is powerful, but when you get that natural high and listen to this music, you can go through any barriers.

Erika (1:03:33)
⁓ you got it.

Eric (1:03:34)
yeah.

Erika (1:03:44)
Those excellent choices.

Mm-hmm.

I mean, nothing's going to carry you as far as a crowd will through the streets of Boston or New York City, exactly. But these songs will definitely help. Thank you so much.

Meb (1:04:00)
True, We don't have music, so the crowd's gonna be your best bet.

Eric (1:04:03)
Yeah, yeah.

Meb (1:04:07)
My pleasure.

Eric (1:04:08)
Mab, I always ask our guests, this year, changed my question of every year. This year's question is, can you give me a hot take? It could be anything like pineapple doesn't belong on pizza, or it could be serious. And I, maybe I'll lead you down this road to like, you got that book about lessons learned. Maybe there was a, maybe there was a lesson learned that you turned into a hot take and it worked for you. and one of my favorites is runner's walk. As an example, you have any

Any takes you can give our listeners, especially before the Boss Marathon in a couple of weeks.

Meb (1:04:39)
Not sure if I answered the question right, hopefully, but I think...

You know, mileage is mileage, but how you do them prioritizing, know, there's no one workout that's going to say I'm ready for it. You know, they got to be cumulative, ⁓ week in week out. And if you can do that, you're going to be successful. ⁓ you know, we dropped out right around a little bit about sometimes mishaps happen, know, in the race in training, like foot poison in New York, you still go out there and get it done.

Breathe right on your shoes instead of your nose. That's hard one, but guess what? If you're fit, if your mind frame is right, you can run a PR whether the breathe right is on your nose or on your feet, you know? ⁓ So just dedicate yourself to be the best you can and on race day it will all come together.

Eric (1:05:31)
I love that. I love the direction these hot takes have taken. They're really been going in the right direction, I feel, and this has been incredible. Meb, this was incredible. Dream, when we started this thing up a couple years ago, this was like the definition of six degrees of Kevin Bacon, if you ever heard that before. Just from friends we've made on this podcast that have led to you. It's been incredible. Listen, next time I see you in Boston, the first time I do, let's get a beer, if we can. I'm buying, my treat.

Meb (1:05:34)
you

Awesome. Sounds great.

You guys have been great ⁓ on the Run podcast. I would listen to some of your things, keep up the great work, and you have guys who have interesting guests and I'm honored to be part of it.

Eric (1:06:07)
Thank you so much.

Erika (1:06:12)
Thank you, Meb. This truly is an honor. I just wish the best for you. And keep encouraging people to get out there and run. And I know we didn't get a chance to talk about it, but your Meb Foundation. I know you're a charity partner for Boston, along with some other races. And I just want to encourage people to commit to raising funds and get to do these amazing races so you can help amazing people.

Meb (1:06:38)
doing a lot of impact to the youth. you got a few seconds, just go to marathonmebfoundation.org and you can help on whatever weekend, whether you run the Boston Marathon, New York, Chicago, Sydney, or other races, but also you can donate to help my cause, to help other kids through health, education, and fitness for young kids.

Eric (1:06:58)
I'll put that in the show notes for you guys all to Guys, I hope you love that as much as Eric and I did because that was wicked awesome. Meb Keflezighi on the On The Runs podcast.

Meb (1:07:09)
Thank you to Eric and Erica. wish you guys all the best and Boston week, here it comes.

Eric (1:07:19)
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Eric and I still owe you a beer. And we are just so excited that you came on the podcast and talked to us. Like this is dream come true. you absolutely delivered Med. All the stories you had there about Boston, you spared no details. He wore the hoodie. He like he read what it was about. He wore the hoodie. So this, this has a lot of thank yous. starts with Becs Gentry that then goes to Rob.

care. Yeah. Rob's executive assistant, Jesse got us to meds management team, got us to his PR guy, got us to that is six people. That's legit Tara six degrees. Kevin Bacon. thank you to everyone who contributed to this, especially meb and also to my race Tatts for sponsoring the guest. My race Tatts Thank you for remembering my race Tatts Thank you for bringing us the guests on this episode. That was incredible.

Meb, you're incredible. I will see you in a couple of weeks in Boston and yes, I owe that beer. forgot to do one thing, if you remember. We were going to ask Meb, were like, you think Meb's going to want to do a little fun real skit with us? We had the whole plan and then we just totally forgot. But you ever see New Girl when Prince walks over and they just freeze? And then Prince is like, I'm sorry, I haven't given you enough time to freak out.

We're really hoping that would do that we forgot that would have been a lot of fun. god Thank you for bringing up a new girl thing because you know it's my absolute favorite So yeah, it is a bummer we forgot, but I mean we forgot for the best reason And I made you keep that one a secret for a while it did okay In fact the only person who really know are the ones here right now I knew Tara knew because you were on speakerphone when you called and that's right ⁓

⁓ I didn't tell anybody. So we have some big news to announce. Big news. We announced last week that we have media credits for the Boston Marathon where they added the photo tower to the media credits, right? And the hotel. So that's going to be awesome. We have even bigger news, guys. Are you ready for this? We are going to be podcasting not once, but twice from the Boston Marathon at the FanFest City Hall Plaza. That's two on brand. Two. That's two. T-W-O on brand.

So the first time you're going to see us podcasting is going to be Saturday evening from the Boston Marathon Fan Fest at 6 o'clock. It might be 630. The times are a little fluid there with it is I think it's 630 to 730. It was 630 to 8 and then there's a band and all this. We're going to be recordings Saturday evening from the Fan Fest. That event is free and we're going to have some really cool guests come on and we're hoping to maybe pull someone from the crowd or something. But we do have planned guest scheduled and that's going to be in front of a crowd in the

It's just like this. It's gonna be incredible then on Sunday Who knows to be announced on Monday will be at our usual? My night mile nineteen point to your section But we have to leave by three o'clock Because we have to make our way back to City Hall Plaza for the mile 27 party With all the finishers and we will be recording a live podcast then I say live it actually won't be live streamed Maybe next year, but we're gonna be recording

with all the runners from the FanFest in City Hall Plaza. How freaking cool is this? I am so pumped. I can't even tell you. You're nervous too. You know what? Honestly though, I'm used to it now. We've done a lot of these live shows. It's getting more natural to me. So I think I can handle it. There's going to be a new element of this challenge though. We need to talk for an hour. So we're going to be very prepared with things to talk about when maybe we have a guest coming in and out. Yeah.

But Tara has a very important job and I really hope she can make it because golf might get in the way. But the her job is going to be your name's getting on the list so you don't have to pay. This is a ticketed event by the way. So it's five dollars. Five dollars. I thought it was ten. It's a five dollar ticket. So the Monday is a ticketed event. You need to buy a ticket to go to this party and there's going to be thousands of people there. It's going to be great. We're going to be recording in front of thousands of people. Tara hopefully is going to be walking around me with Lindsay and grabbing people to come up on stage and talk to us because our

for that one is to get anyone who just ran to come and tell us about the race. Come and tell us about their just like me, limping around, like probably not paying attention, just being freezing cold. But they're going to be drinking because there's going to be beer. It's at Sam Adams. We're going to have so much fun. Oh, it's going to be. And what a cool thing to say. when we, less than a year ago, we never thought we would do a live show like this. And now it's the VA. Pretty sweet. So proud of you guys. A lot of thanks to everyone who has helped make these.

opportunities

happen. lot of people help make these opportunities happen. It goes beyond all the fingers on my two hands. Like I'm looking at John right now, Millennium running. I'm looking at everyone who's given us these opportunities. Darren Roy, the DJ over there. It's like Jamie Staton. Jamie Staton, who kind of started that whole here's an email, email that guy. So yeah, what's up Darren?

It's so cool. So that that that is the big news I'm so pumped about it and we might have more coming soon, too That's in the works but media credentials recording from the Boston Marathon Fan Fest at City Hall Plaza And the opportunities are endless Erika I hope you're ready to get outside your comfort zone. Let's We're making it yeah, I like what Wyatt said which you'll hear

Thursday's episode. Yep. Let's ride And not what not kicking down. Come on over. Hey, this is this is we got Andy coming over Andy just wrapped up doing the announcing so

I want to say, I'm not wrapped up, but I want to say you guys had much more fun than I did. Next year we're switching jobs. You guys get to talk to the runners. Because that way people don't have to hear my voice for hours. have a great voice though. has an incredible voice and like that whole the connections and everything. The Jamie thing happened because I was listening to Andy at the New Hampshire 10 milers. Like I want to get someone on who announces races. And then Jamie led to Darren, Darren led to John and everybody.

One of these days you're joining me at the finish line to do some announcing though. I would love to. Absolutely. Manchester City, I think would be a good one. Well, I know you guys are probably there anyway. I actually might be on the other side of world that weekend. All right. Well, one of these days when you're we're going to you guys are going to join me at the finish line. How do you how do you deal with the names that are difficult to pronounce? You just do the best you can. it. Give me the hard ones. You just you do the best you can or you look at the

and you only do the first name like just a minutes ago. I think it was Carol something I said just Carol. Yeah well that's why I'm just gonna say Mib!

I would love to stay and talk, but they're still coming in. They're still finishing. They're still finishing. to you, Annie. It's gotten a little breezy here. It was a perfect day, though, for PR. I am an ice cube. That Erika was unable to do. She was very close, though. She still ran a sub four. I missed it by a minute and 18 seconds, which is not a big deal. Like, honestly, not a big 78 seconds. Second best marathon. Second could have gotten that 78 seconds. Where do you lose it? In a lot of places. I lost it in several.

You

ever see the Casey Neistat video where he says on this one race I'm not gonna high five or wave anybody because each time it wastes this much time. Oh he did the math. Yeah did the math. will never do that because that just makes my experience like why would I want to have less fun? seriously why would I want to less Now if you watch the follow-up when he redid the race and he's sub three hour in New York City he couldn't help himself he still said hi and gave little little like you know

I'm vibing right now. You hear it in the background. Well, Erika, we're doing this today and not on our typical Monday because you are heading out of town. Oh, baby, I am going to California and I'm going to be warm for a week. So jealous. See you. You must have a great job that lets you take all this time off to travel. You make a ton of money. Just for her sad again. Just for the month of life. Living the

By the way, a certain friend of ours caught that we were talking about this and he was like, are you okay? So I had to be like, Erika made it big on only feet and she is now, that's now her number one income source. Still an option. Yeah, put it this way. People stop going to the sperm bank. Don't judge me if I go the root of the foot. We got Darren coming over. Darren, thank you for

playing some NSYNC today. That is my jam and it has been since like 1999, 2000 maybe? I don't remember. I was like six or five. I was like 13 or Darren, did you see the Backstreet Boy Brian got in a beach with some guy, a beach, and then he's like, this is a private beach. The guy's like, it's a public beach. So the cops come and the cop said, oh no, I know who you are. You're the bye bye bye guy. And goes, he goes, wrong band.

there is no rivalry between the Backstreet Boys and Nsync because Lance hangs out with AJ all the time. Joey hangs out with all of them too. There's just love there. They're grown ups. They evolved. Yes. For sure. Darren, how are the vibes today from the Cheep Marathon here in Wyndham, New Hampshire? pretty damn great. little chillier than we would like it, for sure. It did get a little But this morning was awesome. still right now, we're what? I'm not even sure what hour this is. 1.26. have no idea.

I got here like 5 30 this morning. Oh my gosh. You came here last night and set up. Yes. Like, are you worried about the rain? Yeah. With your gear? Yeah. How do you protect it? So those great covers that we have right on top. Yeah. Excellent. All right. Do they have security here at night watching your stuff? Yeah. So we came here, set up last night so that I don't have wake up at 3 30 in the morning to be here. Yeah. Like I slept an extra 30 minutes, which was amazing. Beautiful. You earned it, It was great. You earned it. You got some fun events.

Bench

coming up, like I see you post on your Instagram like where you're gonna be, so what's next for you? Where you gonna be? Races and events, weddings, proms, like it's prom season. Are you a prom DJ? No, not really.

That's not my niche. Not my avenue. Stick to the races, man. We you here. So I'll do a couple Millennium at the end of this month. then you got the jacket party coming up. You doing that? No. No, but I'm going to get a jacket. All right. So that's amazing. That's amazing. He's a runner now. got a DJ turned runner, still DJing, and now running. Last year, I volunteered to give out jackets. And now I'm getting a Now you're getting one. That's that. That's incredible. Will you be at the jacket party? Yeah. Awesome.

Friday, April 10th. I'm so sad to miss this one, guys. But somebody's got to send me a picture of the Run Club singlet, because I get one this year. But no, like, I don't I'm probably 25 events in for this year, and I'll do another 70 or something. Wow. 80. Packed. It's packed. Yeah, and then, of course, a couple of the memorables, is like Boston of NMA, the Boston Run Run Members. That's amazing, you know. Or even like, how many people get to DJ?

Marathon right like just were you announcing names when Andy came over here and said hi what's allowed to let me talk? mean? Is that a microphone you just happy to see? Unbelievable well, dude. This is whoa. It is getting windy here this thing might come down. Thank God. It was not this windy earlier, right? I think that's a sign to wrap this up. I y'all have a great

time. Yeah, y'all are great today. Yeah, I appreciate you turning the speaker around too early when we started. ⁓ Erika, we got to this home, but another shout out to my race Tatts. Thank you for bringing us our incredible guest segment. Also, Boston weeks is off to a strong shot start last week with Troy and Jordan this week with meb on Thursday, you're going to hear the cheap marathon episode the next week.

We're going to have some incredible guests with some behind the scenes info from the BAA and some stories there. And then a Boston sports media personality who's five Boston marathons, one that landed her in a hospital.

Yup. This, you guys, this Boston Weeks thing is lit. It is so good. So then the, after the Boston Marathon, you'll probably get an episode that's like on the ground that we did last year, but then you're going to get the two recordings from the live shows. I'm a little overwhelmed. It's a lot of work. And then I think we just need to do one episode of like you and me recapping the whole thing. Let's do it. Because it's just, it's a lot. You need some time to de-stress. We time. just need.

we're

going to need time to like talk about it. Yeah. And so we'll do that. So Boston Week is really not like a Boston month and a half. So if you don't like it too bad, this is happening. It's the best because it's the greatest. Running in New England is the absolute greatest. This is so much fun. Again, thank you to everyone at Millennium for helping us put on these events. Thank you for everyone for all these opportunities that have helping us grow and get these amazing, incredible guests like Meb who go back and tell their people that was fun.

it again. love that. take us home. I have to say congratulations to everybody who ran the cheap marathon and half marathon today. You guys are rock stars. It was a really nice day. Now it's getting cold and windy, but there are still people finishing. So congratulations. And as always, thank you all for listening. You know, we love you. Never trust a fart. Don't fear the code Brown. And don't forget to stretch.