The Eat for Endurance Podcast Athlete Nutrition Profile - Running Legend, Meb Keflezighi
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Welcome to Episode 20 of the Eat for Endurance Podcast, featuring four-time Olympian and legendary distance runner, Meb Keflezighi.
Like many of you I’m sure, I have admired Meb - both his athletic accomplishments as well as his character - for many years. He won the NYC Marathon in 2009, right as I started to train for my first marathon. And in 2014, I was in the middle of running my second Boston Marathon when I heard the amazing and uplifting news that Meb, at nearly 39 years old, had won the race (he was the first American to do so since 1985). He’s also an Olympic silver medalist (Athens, 2004), the oldest marathoner to qualify for the US Olympic team, and an author of three great books that detail his unique story and long, inspiring career (Run to Overcome, Meb for Mortals, and 26 Marathons).
I had the privilege of meeting Meb this past Fall. We chatted briefly about nutrition and bonded over having daughters (he has three, and I was very pregnant with my second). Just as he was about to move on to the next person, I mustered up the courage to ask him to be on my newly-launched podcast. He said yes, and five months later, I had the honor of interviewing him!
I will confess that I was a bit nervous going into this one, but that melted away the minute we started chatting. He truly is a kind, down-to-earth, funny guy and a wonderful ambassador to the sport. He also is a great example of endurance and longevity in running, so obviously I was excited to deep-dive into his nutrition!
Meb and I explored his life and career in detail through a nutrition lens, including:
- What he ate while in Eritrea and after emigrating to the US via Italy (Eritrean cuisine sounds delicious, btw)
- How his nutrition evolved once he started running competitively in high school and college
- Significant learning moments re: his nutrition after he turned pro
- Juggling family life with his nutrition, training and recovery demands
- Nutrition sponsorships (UCAN, Powerbar)
- What training and nutrition look like now that he is retired (hint - he is loving his sweets)
- His take on raising body-positive daughters
Learn more about Meb:
- Website: https://marathonmeb.com
- Follow Meb on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Announcements:
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- Have nutrition questions, a guest or topic request, or any other feedback? Email me - claire@eatforendurance.com.
- Music Credit: Joseph McDade
- Disclaimer – all information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is in no way meant to replace individual medical and nutrition recommendations. If you'd like to work with me for individualized nutrition suppor
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