Review: Meb For Mortals: How to Run, Think, and Eat like a Champion Marathoner

Meb For Mortals: How to Run, Think, and Eat like a Champion Marathoner

Worth Every Penny: Meb Knows His Stuff

As I was reading "Meb for Mortals," a non-runner friend saw it. "I don't know what a Meb is," she said. To runners, however, Meb Keflezighi is a household name. Why? Because he is winning in a sport we Americans haven't won very often. His credentials as a marathoner are long and deep. Even as he has turned 40, he is still among the best.

But why this book?

Meb finds that space between inspiring and informative.

It is unlike other distance running books. "Meb for Mortals" isn't filled with detailed workouts 18 or 20 weeks out from race day. Nor is it a long dissertation on the merits of a quality diet. And you won't find it going on and on about some philosophy of running. That said, there's a little of all that in here.

Ghostwritten by Scott Douglas, it is better than most other books on writing. Douglas is a senior content editor at Runner's World (same publisher as the book). The guy knows running and isn't just another hack.

Tony Dungy wrote the foreword. You can skip that. Dungy doesn't really say anything interesting or unique to his relationship to running or Meb. It feels sort of pasted on. But no worries, you are reading the book for the rest, not the foreword.

The chapters:
Think Like Meb
Run Like Meb
Train Like Meb
Race Like Meb
Eat Like Meb
Strengthen Like Meb
Stretch Like Meb
Cross-Train Like Meb
Recover Like Meb

Like the chapter titles imply, we get this from his point of view, from his personal experience as a runner. He's not (yet) a coach, nor does he necessarily have expertise in nutrition and so forth. But he wins. That means it is worth learning how one guy is getting it done.

Within each chapter, he relates the content to his own life. When discussing diet, he tells how much he weighed when, and what weight his physician told he should weigh.

Among the things you'll gain from this is a sense of his personal discipline. He stays on the game even when he's resting. By that I mean he takes seriously the process of making good choices. He doesn't take his success for granted. He reminds us of three simple keys in life:

Good goals
Commitment
Hard Work

This shouldn't be the only running book you read. Bob Glover's The Competitive Runner's Handbook: The Bestselling Guide to Running 5Ks through Marathons  is a great one, as is Hal Higdon's Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide: Advice, Plans, and Programs for Half and Full Marathons. There are too many others to name, but Meb's book is worth your money and time.

Anthony Trendl
AmericanSpeechwriter.com

The Running Life (Running Books)

The Running Life
by Nicholas Thompson

The first sporting event that I remember caring about was the 1982 Boston Marathon. I was six years old, which is an age when most sports make no sense: the players wear masks, are freakishly tall, or contend with complicated matters like strike zones. But children know how to run and they know how to race. There’s little competition that’s purer than two men—Alberto Salazar and Dick Beardsley, in this case—racing side by side for 26.2 miles. Beardsley wore a white cap; Salazar wore red shorts; they ran so close together that they seemed like one.

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/05/the-running-life.html#ixzz1v2Bh9PdI

Once a Runner - Intriguing Read for the Literate Runner, Average for the Rest (review)

Unfortunately, "Once a Runner," John L Parker's legendary book about the plight of a runner, is ultimately forgettable.

It is a search for self and a search for meaning that drives the book, with an existential nihilistic, or, perhaps less philosophically, humanist gear pacing the reading through the selfish individualism of runner Quenton Cassidy. His goal is to both break the 4:00 barrier (a gold standard among milers) and to compete against the world's best. However, he has broken rules which bar him from racing in the key meet.

In general, it is well written. Occasionally has a literary quality, but then drops into average novel-of-the-moment phrasing. It captures the intensity and mindset of the runner fairly well. Drops a lot of the names of known runners (Pre, Liquori, Shorter, etc.)

As it was published in 1978 originally, that could be a problem. As a runner myself, I'm somewhat of a track nerd, and was reading "Runners World" in the late 1970s and early 1980s while those guys names and some of the running sub-culture was as described. Would the world who follows Hall, Cox, Haile (names, which in a few years, may be forgotten by the less-than-hardcore-runner) on the long distance side, or the crowd who watches Webb and so on -- would they 'get it'? The running boom was just kicking into high gear then. Jim Fixx's book, "The Complete Book of Running" had just come out. Coe, Cram, Ovett hadn't really gotten going. Marathons hadn't blown into mega events yet.

As a book, I wonder if non-runners would enjoy it? I'm not sure. I don't think that it transcends the niche audience/market the way Alan Sillitoe's "Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" has.

Runners who read regularly will devour this, as might the endurance sports enthusiast. Its accolades will remain there. For the rest of the reading public, it is average, if not overdone.

Anthony Trendl
http://runnersdilemma.blogspot.com/

The Runner's Devotional: Inspiration and Motivation for Life's Journey, On and Off the Road

The Runner's Devotional: Inspiration and Motivation for Life's Journey, On and Off the Road

I have two vignettes of my running adventures here. Both address things I have learned as a runner, each with a hard example showing how I learned it.

Take a look, and, let me know if you find my entries.

Ever wondered if there’s a purpose to your running and what it has to do with your spiritual life? The Runner’s Devotional will inspire you in your faith while encouraging you to excel at the sport you love! This book is for runners of all levels—casual and avid, competitive and recreational—who want to improve their running skills, attain personal running goals, and grow closer to God. Fifty-two devotional readings will keep runners motivated, inspired, and running in the right direction, both on and off the road, through life’s many peaks and valleys. Each devotional includes an inspirational reading, a personal story from a runner, Scripture application, running tips, and questions to consider. Additional features include health and fitness tips, and weekly runner’s logs.

From the Back Cover

Find inspiration and meaning while excelling at the sport of running!

Ever wonder if your running has a purpose and how it connects to your relationship with God? The Runner’s Devotional will inspire you in your faith while encouraging you to excel at the sport you love! This book is for runners of all levels—casual and avid, competitive and recreational—who want to improve their running skills, attain personal running goals, and grow in their faith.

The Runner’s Devotional features:

• Weekly devotional readings to keep you motivated and inspired
• Personal stories of faith, challenge, and victory
• Scripture explanation to help you apply the Bible to running and your life
• Health and fitness tips
• Weekly runner’s logs
• Race training schedules for 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon
• Journaling pages

Red Bandana: Things A Runner Can Do While Sick

Read this week's column: Resolutely Speaking: Fighting for Fitness in 2011


I have the flu.

Since Christmas, I have been sleeping around 13-14 hours a day. I am well accustomed to the various shadows that appear on my ceiling. I can now distinguish which neighbor is leaving by the sound of their car. Also, I now have researched all 421 ways of shuffling a pillow to make it more comfortable.

I have not run. I have not walked. I did drink some Gatorade. My physician told me it was a good idea. Those of us with the flu sweat a lot, and drinks like Gatorade can help replenish necessary fluids and electrolytes.

What can you do if the flu hits you this season? Besides rereading through the amazing library of "Red Bandana" articles, there are some good, creative choices in movies and books.

MOVIES

"Spirit of the Marathon"
Filmmaker John Dunham follows six very different, average runners as they train for the Chicago Marathon. Filled with interviews, some documentary-style info about the marathon, and appearances by legendary runners such as Dick Beardsley, Paula Radcliffe, Bill Rodgers, Toshihiko Seko and Grete Waitz.

"Prefontaine" or "Without Limits"
Two biopics about legendary runner Steve "Pre" Prefontaine who died in a tragic car accident at the height of his career. He ran for Coach Bill Bowerman at University of Oregon, and in the 1972 Munich Olympics. Very inspiring.

BOOKS

"The Competitive Runner's Handbook: The Bestselling Guide to Running 5Ks through Marathons" (Bob Glover)
Glover gives hard-core, nuts and bolts info for all levels of fitness. Solid how-to, without the fluff of running psychobabble.

"Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide" (Hal Higdon)
Lots of training tips and anecdotes from runners Higdon has trained, mostly in the Chicago area. Great for the first-time marathoner.

"The Quotable Runner: Great Moments of Wisdom, Inspiration, Wrongheadedness, and Humor" (Mark Will-Weber)
Quoted here are great runners and writers about running, from Shakespeare to high school mile record holder, Alan Webb. Distance star Rob de Castella on marathoning, "If you feel bad after 10 miles, you're in trouble. If you feel bad at 20 miles, you're normal. If you don't feel bad at 26 miles, you're abnormal." Finland's great Olympic marathoner, Lasse Viren enthusiastically revealed his secret to racing success, "Reindeer milk!" Whatever might be dubious about Viren's claim is difficult to argue. Viren won four gold medals. Oprah Winfrey is there more than once, including, "I'm never going to run another marathon."

"Galloway's Book on Running" (Jeff Galloway)
This has become a running classic, providing the basics about running, training, and racing for years. Galloway does not presume the runner is a casual "New Year's Resolution" jogger who will likely quit in a month. Instead, he looks to build a foundation of sensible workouts, leading to genuine fitness, endurance and speed.

"Once a Runner: A Novel" (John L. Parker)
Very popular among runners as one of the few novels with running as a focus. It looks at the ego of the self-consumed runner, what it means to be a competitive runner devoted to a single-minded pursuit of excellence.

"Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner" (Alan Sillitoe)
Maybe you read this short-story in high school, about the same time as you read "Catcher in the Rye." A sharp, lean book -- it is a tale of rebellion, courage, and independence. When Colin Smith is tossed into a prison school for delinquent youths, he finds long distance running allows him a kind of emotional escape. It turns out he is very fast, and officials put him up against a prestigious public school. If he wins, there is PR for the prison and early release for Colin. That's not how it goes, but I'll let you find out what happens.

Running Playlist Song of the Week
"Let's Get This Party Started" Pink (2001)
New Year's is here. Parties, parties, parties. You will hear this wedding reception classic at least once this season. More importantly, think of it as a command to get back into gear for running. Restart your goals, and refocus on getting fit for spring. Get it on your iPod and get going.

"Get this party started on a Saturday night
Everybody's waiting for me to arrive
Sending out the message to all of my friends."

———————
Freelance writer Anthony Trendl loves BBQs, folk music and porches. I look to running as I battle midlife and my mid-section. See http://anthonytrendl.com/ or e-mail me at anthonytrendl@gmail.com

Author blog: http://anthonytrendl.blogspot.com/
Author’s running blog: http://runnersdilemma.blogspot.com/

The Red Bandana: Finding Fitness Through the Joy of Running

Run to Overcome: An American Story of Marathoner Meb Keflezighi's Life

American marathoner Meb Keflezighi's last name is hard to say. Talk among runners, and mention, "Meb," and that's usually enough. "Run to Overcome" is likely to help it become a household name.

His claim to fame is his Silver Medal for the marathon, won at the 2004 Olympics, or his 2:09:15 time while winning the 2009 New York City Marathon. But that's not why this book matters. Other runners have run faster. Haile Gebrselassie owns the world record in 2:03:59. Cheering on Meb comes easier once you know the back story. In the midst of being all about a runner's life, it isn't about running. It is a Horatio Alger type story of rags-to-riches, full of hard times, hard work, and the blessing of God.

Like many immigrants, Meb's family left home to remain safe from war, and to find a better life. And like those families, things were difficult. And in the face of adversity, he found motivation.

When Tyndale House Publishers sent me this book, asking for a review, I wondered suspiciously if it would be like so many autobiographies with a "look at all I have achieved" attitude. Better written than expected, Meb humbly relates his life. He takes us through his childhood in Eritrea, a country not quite twice the population of Chicago. He describes facing soldiers and war, and how he saw death as a young boy. He tells how his parents taught him to trust God despite all of this.

After emigrating through Italy to the United States, his his American teachers made an impact, he says, as he mentions a note he still owns from a teacher encouraging him as an excellent student. His seventh grade PE class teacher had him run a mile, and his first time out, Meb ran a 5:20.

Meb enters UCLA, relating running and academic struggles, though ultimately succeeds at both.

Challenges continued, however, after college. First, does represent America or his home country? Injuries. Bad races. Psychologically beat up, he learns to dig deep and beyond whatever froze him, train smart to stay healthy, and find a way to win.

He admits when he ran one televised 10,0000 meter final, his girlfriend would be watching, "I wanted to impress her." He won by 19 seconds. He eventually marries her.

More races, more ups and down are found as Meb matures in his running career. His beloved friend Ryan Shay dies while racing. Eritrean friends are murdered just before he visits them. A grocery store he owned with his family was robbed by armed thieves. His racing doesn't go well, and his income drops. His faith grew just the same.

He applauds the many people he competes against, and recognizes his friends. Throughout the pages are pullout quotes by coaches, friends and runners who all repeat the quality of his character. Olympic legend Joan Benoit writes similarly in her brief foreword, reiterating it is an honor to call Meb her friend.

Overall, "Run to Overcome" is honest and inspiring. Runners will appreciate the race and training details, but nonrunners will find it readable. I fully recommend "Run to Overcome" by Meb Keflezighi.

Anthony Trendl

I Am On Meb Keflezighi's Blog Tour

I have just been added to Meb Keflezighi's 'blog tour'. His publisher, Tyndale House Publisher, connected with me via Twitter, knowing I blogged about running and reviewed books.

What exactly this entails besides getting a copy of the book, and a few pictures appropriate for online/blog use, I don't know. Will Meb come to my blog?

Joan Benoit Samuelson, a hero of mine when I was in high school, wrote the forward, so I am curious what she has to say. Though both great runners (she won the 1984 marathon just 17 days after knee surgery), I thought her world view would be significantly different than his, but I don't know either person in real life. As a person of character and diligence in running, Benoit is Class-A.

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Run to Overcome: The Inspiring Story of an American Champion's Long-Distance Quest to Achieve a Big Dream 
When Meb Keflezighi won the New York City Marathon in 2009—the first American to do so in 27 years—some critics questioned whether the Eritrean-born runner was “really” an American despite his citizenship status and representing the USA on two Olympic and several World Championship teams. Yet Meb is the living embodiment of the American dream. His family came to the U.S. to escape from a life of poverty and a violent war with Ethiopia; Meb was 12 at the time, spoke no English, and had never raced a mile. Yet he became an A student and a high school state and national champion. And when he stood on the platform as a silver medalist in the 2004 Olympics, Meb knew his hard work and determination had paid off. How could life be any better? 

Then it all came crashing down. Meb, a favorite for the Beijing Olympics, fractured his pelvis during the trials and was left literally crawling. His close friend and fellow marathoner suffered a cardiac arrest at the trials and died that same day. Devastated, Meb was about to learn whether his faith in God, the values his parents had taught him, and his belief that he was born to run were enough to see him through. 

Run to Overcome tells the inspirational story of a man who discovered the real meaning of victory, and who embodies the American spirit of overcoming the odds.

The book will be released November 1, 2010. 

Meb's site.
http://www.runmeb.com/

Not Exactly a Runner, Holden Caulfield's Author Passes Away - RIP JD Salinger

"I don't even know what I was running for - I guess I just felt like it." - Holden Caulfield, Catcher in the Rye by the recently deceased JD Salinger. RIP.