Podcasts about Abdi Abdirahman

To many of you, Abdi Abdirahman is a household name. He's the first American distance runner to make five Olympic teams and the oldest American distance runner ever to make an Olympic team. The list of accomplishments goes on. A few years ago, he wrote a book called “Abdi's World,” which chronicles his impressive career in running, and that's why I wanted to have him on the show. In this conversation, we discuss: Not taking the sport too seriously as a strategy to stay competitive. Self-belief and why he's never lacked motivation to be a professional runner. The importance of a team environment and the psychological challenges of group workouts. Rules to live by in running. What's next for his professional career. Like probably everyone else, I found Abdi to be equal parts generous, joyful, introspective, and excited in this conversation. I hope you take as much from it for your own running life as I did. Connect, Comment, Community Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month! Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community  RunnersConnect Facebook page GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT! This week's show brought to you by: Fatty15 Fatty15's C15 omega-3 is made from a patented, oxidation-resistant form of pure C15 derived from plants. It's vegan-friendly, free of flavors, fillers, allergens or preservatives. Plus, independent studies have shown is has 3x the healthy-aging cell benefits of omega-3 or fish oil and that it's 3x better, broader, and safer than traditional omega-3.  C15 works in multiple ways: It repairs age-related damage to cells, protects them from future breakdown, and boosts mitochondrial energy output. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/RTTT and using code RTTT at checkout for an additional 15% off your first order. Timeline Time-line Nutrition's Mitopure is backed by over a decade of research and is clinically proven to revitalize mitochondria, so every cell in your body has the energy to do its job and keep you healthy and functioning right.  In fact, clinical studies have shown that 500mg of Urolithin, one of the main ingredients in Mitopure, can significantly increase muscle strength & endurance with no other change in lifestyle. Improving your mitochondria is one of the best things you can do for your health and with Mitopure from time-line nutrition, it has never been easier. Go to timelinenutrition.com and use promo code RUNNERSCONNECT for 10% off the plan of your choice.

In this bonus episode of the Marathon Running Podcast, we bring you an exhilarating race recap of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trial Marathon that unfolded on February 3, 2024. Tune in to hear about the remarkable performance led by Zach Panning, who blazed through the first six miles at an impressive 4:49 mile pace, steering the lead pack alongside Conner Mantz and Clayton Young, the sole runners to meet the 2:08:10 Olympic standard prior to the race. The drama unfolds with unexpected twists, including the departure of seasoned runners like Scott Fauble, Abdi Abdirahman, and Sam Chelanga. Panning's relentless pace and strategic moves beyond the halfway point set the stage for a thrilling race. The intensity peaks as training partners Mantz and Young share a high-five, navigating the last loop with determination. The race for third adds another layer of excitement, culminating in Leonard Korir's impressive comeback in the final mile, securing a third-place finish. Although Korir faces the challenge of meeting the Olympic standard, his podium finish opens doors for potential Team USA representation in Paris. The episode delves into the gripping details, providing a front-row seat to this Olympic Trials spectacle. Don't miss out on this captivating recount with exclusive excerpts from the press conference, making it a must-listen for marathon enthusiasts and sports aficionados alike.   Free UCAN sample pack: UCAN.co/mrpUse code MRP for 20% off!   Support our podcast and check out our RunSwag Tshirts ·       Our website: ⁠www.marathonrunningpodcast.com⁠ ·       Our Instagram: ⁠@runningpodcast⁠ ·       Our Amazon Storefront: ⁠Amazon Storefront⁠ ·       Join our Facebook group: ⁠SpeedStriders Facebook Group⁠ ·       Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@RunningPodcast

On Saturday, Feb. 3, Orlando will host the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. The top three men and women who have met the qualifying standards and criteria will be named the U.S. Olympic team for the Paris Games. This race features the first head-to-head matchup over the marathon distance by American record holder Emily Sisson and former record holder Keira D'Amato. Five of the six members of the 2020 Olympic team are back as Galen Rupp, Molly Seidel, Aliphine Tuliamuk, Jake Riley and Abdi Abdirahman return to try and make another team. Conner Mantz and Scott Fauble remain two of the most consistent American men of the last Olympic cycle. CITIUS MAG's team (Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber, and Eric Jenkins) will preview all the top storylines and athletes to watch. Read our full previews for the elite races: https://citiusmag.com/ Show presented by HOKA | Stay up to date on the latest news and promotions from HOKA. Check them out here: https://www.hoka.com/

Book Club Claire is back for a not-so-marathon discussion about TKFLASTANI marathoner Abdi Abdirahman's book Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun. And plants. We also talk plants. Our next book will be Snowball's Chance: The Story of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games Squaw Valley & Lake Tahoe by David C. Antonucci. Get your copy through our Bookshop.org storefront (affiliate link) and support the show -- we get a commission from purchases made through that link. Also on the show, Alison looks back on short track speed skater Cathy Turner's feats at Albertville 1992. In our news from TKFLASTAN, Team Keep the Flame Alive has been busy! We have updates from: Marnie McBean Nordic combined athlete Annika Malacinski- She'll be at Jumpapalooza in Lake Placid in a few weeks. If you're in the area, check it out! Sport climber/Ninja warrior Josh Levin Race walker/candidate Evan Dunfee Speed skater Erin Jackson - back on wheels! Sailors Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea Former biathlete Clare Egan, who adds another board membership to her resume Boxer Ginny Fuchs, who will be fighting on September 10 World Games medalist John Moorhead - get well soon! This week also marks the 50th anniversary of the tragic loss of life at the Munich 1972 Olympics when terrorists took 11 Israeli team members hostage. Their tragic deaths, along with a German policeman's, will never be forgotten. We also have news from Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024, LA 2028 and the International Paralympic Committee. For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://wp.me/pbRtIx-1Yr Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive! ***  Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown   Support the show: Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod   Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022 Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348  

It's time for another Lightning Round episode with some of our TKFLASTANIs - and this time, we're keeping it in the world of athletics. Runner Madeline Manninng Mims talks with us about being a Tigerbelle and just how hard training could be. Race walker Evan Dunfee shares where you can get the best doughnuts in Canada. And marathoner Abdi Abdirahman shares the secret to getting good pins for his Olympic pin collection. For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://wp.me/pbRtIx-1Yp Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive! ***  Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown   Support the show: Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod   Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022 Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348    

In the fifth episode of the Runners Who Read Podcast, Olivia Baker sits down with Abdi Abdirahman, author of the July 2022 book: Abdi's World. Abdi Abdirahman is a 5-time Olympian in the 10,000m and marathon. Born in Somalia, he fled the country along with his parents and 4 siblings in the midst of a civil war at just 13 years old. After spending several years in a refugee camp in Mombasa, Kenya, he immigrated to the United States through a program for Somali refugees. It wasn't until his freshman year at Pima Community College that he would set foot on his first track but it was immediately clear that he was very talented. As a junior, he transferred to the University of Arizona where he would begin to train under Coach Dave Murray (who is still his coach to this day) and kick off a running career that has seen Abdi consistently compete at the elite level and represent the United States on the world stage for the last quarter of a century through present day.   In this episode, we discuss how he got his infamous "Black Cactus" nickname, the ways he continues to find fun in the sport after all this time, and the secret to his longevity in this sport at the elite level among other things.   Show notes: Runners Who Read Book Club: www.atlantatrackclub.org/runners-who-read   Follow Abdi: Twitter: @Abdi_runs Instagram: @abdiruns   Follow Olivia Twitter: @obaker64 Instagram: @obaker64

Many of us are running in record-breaking heat this week, so it might make you feel better to know that even the world's fastest runners don't love the heat & humidity. This week, we hear from Abdi Abdirahman, who's about to run his 9th Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race. He tells us how he approaches hydration – and how he's preparing to tackle the course he knows so well. Plus, Atlanta Track Club's Kristin Lide-Hall tells us how you can still get two t-shirts by volunteering on race weekend. Check out more opportunities at https://www.atlantatrackclub.org/volunteers.

Abdi Abdirahman is the kind of person they make inspirational movies about. After escaping war-torn Somalia as a teenager, Abdi has gone on to become one of the most accomplished American distance runners this century, representing the USA in five different Olympic Games. Hear his story on the latest 30 With Murti podcast.

Abdi Abdirahman is a five-time Olympian and the author of Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Running, Life, and Fun. Originally from Somalia, Abdi was forced to flee the country and spend time in a refugee camp in Kenya before settling with his family in the US. He discovered his talent for running at college and went on to become a professional distance runner, representing the USA at five Olympic Games. At the age of 45, Abdi still loves to run, and he's currently focusing on preparing to qualify for his sixth Olympics.

Craig Curley (Diné) is a marathoner and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier. Craig's professional running journey has been a winding path. In the early 2000s, he was considered a top high school runner in Arizona. Forgoing Division I collegiate opportunities, he went on to compete for Pima Community College for two years and broke the 5,000m record which was previously held by Pima Community College alum Abdi Abdirahman. Shortly after the 2012 trials, Craig won the Columbus Marathon and signed a contract with Mizuno. In this conversation, we talk about the different phases of his running journey, the coaches he's worked with, and how his home life and cultural upbringing intersect with his running career. I am lucky to have connected with Craig through our mutual friend, Mario Fraioli. Mario is currently coaching Craig as he tackles this new season of running and life.   In this episode: Wings of America Billy Elliot (Movie) Craig Curley on the Morning Shakeout Podcast “With Pro Runners Eager to Race, a Marathon Comes to Arizona,” by Sarah Lorge Butler, com, September 24, 2020. Taylor 50k Race The Presets (Band) Running with the Buffaloes: A Season Inside with Mark Wetmore, Adam Goucher, and the University of Colorado Men's Cross-Country Team (Book by Chris Lear)] There, There (Book by Tommy Orange)   Follow Craig Curley: Instagram: @craigcurley_   Follow Grounded Pod: Instagram: @groundedpod Twitter: @groundedpod Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee   Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher   Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).   This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

Jared Ward is an American long-distance runner who qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics and finished sixth. In this episode of Run with Fitpage, Jared gives an insight into his marathon training structure and talks about balancing life while playing so many different roles.Episode Summary:00:00 - About this episode02:59 - Welcoming Jared to the show!05:24 - Beginning of Jared's running and athletic journey06:15 - Does playing soccer have a role in improving running performances?13:53 - The role of mindset and what should be the right one?10:06 - Jared's analogy towards competing at the Olympic level along with other roles to play18:39 - Managing work and training together19:10 - Importance of a coach 22:10 - Jared's plans and strategies to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympic Qualifiers28:32 - Jared's teaching and how he perceives the different data?31:31 - Working with Saucony on the shoe project36:42 - How does Jared plan training, nutrition and other aspects of performance44:32 - The importance of following the training plan49:06 - Looking at the future - how does Jared see the next three years?Guest Profile:Jared qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics when he placed third in the 2016 US Olympic Trials marathon. He finished sixth at the 2016 Olympics. Ward has a master's degree in statistics from Brigham Young University (BYU) and teaches statistics at BYU as a member of the adjunct faculty. At the 2015 USATF, 25 km Championships Ward finished 1st, defeating Matt Llano, Christo Landry, Abdi Abdirahman, Augustus Maiyo, and Brett Gotcher. On February 13, 2016, Ward finished third, behind Galen Rupp and Meb Keflezighi at the US Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles, California, to secure a place on the 2016 US Olympic Team finishing in 2:13:00.Connect with Jared on Instagram: @jwardy21About Vikas Singh:Vikas Singh, an MBA from Chicago Booth, worked at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, APGlobale and Reliance before coming up with an idea of democratizing fitness knowledge and helping beginners get on a fitness journey. Vikas is an avid long-distance runner, building fitpage to help people learn, train, and move better.For more information on Vikas, or to leave any feedback and requests, you can reach out to him via the channels below:Instagram: @vikas_singhhLinkedIn: Vikas SinghGmail: vikas@fitpage.inTwitter: @vikashsingh1010About the Podcast: Run with FitpageThis podcast series is built to bring science and research from the endurance sports industry. These may help you learn and implement these in your training, recovery, and nutrition journey. We invite coaches, exercise scientists, researchers, nutritionists, doctors, and inspiring athletes to come and share their knowledge and stories with us. So, whether you're just getting started with running or want to get better at it, this is the best podcast for you!Learn more about fitness and nutrition on our website, www.fitpage.in or check out our app Fitpage on iOS and Android.This podcast was recorded on Zoom conferencing.

In this episode we speak with Abdi Abdirahman -who represented team USA at the Olympic Marathon in Tokyo at the age of 43. He is the oldest American runner ever to make the Olympic team and the only distance runner to make the Olympics 5 times.

In this episode we speak with Abdi Abdirahman who represented Team USA at the Olympic Marathon in Tokyo at the age of 43. He is the oldest American runner to make the Olympic team and the only distance runner to make the Olympics 5 times!  In the quick tip segment Coach Angie shares tips on coping with cold weather running. Links: Abdi's new book Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Life MetPro.  Get $500 off their concierge coaching! Athletic Greens.  Get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase.  The Academy.  All of our archived podcast episodes, training plans, and more.

"During the race, to be honest, I don't wear a watch. Rule number one. I don't run for time. I just get to the front and hang on as long as I can."Our guest this week is Abdi Abdirahman, 5-time US Olympian at 10,000 meters and the marathon.I've known Abdi for about fifteen years now. If you know anything about this living legend in the sport of running it's that he brings joy wherever he goes. There's never a dull moment when he's around. Just ask any of his peers. In fact, you can find out for yourself when you read his new book, Abdi's World. Throughout his book are anecdotes from some of the best runners from the past few decades. They all share the common theme of how calm, cool and fun Abdi is, no matter what. This may be the secret to his twenty plus years of success as a long distance runner for the US. Bryan and I got to interview him on the Go Be More podcast in July of 2020. He shared so much wisdom from his journey with us in that interview. Today, we get to bring things full circle as we dive into his experience running the marathon at the Tokyo Olympics and some of the lessons he shares in his new book. Abdi's been competing at the highest level of running and we want to give you insight into how he's done it. Who knows. Maybe his approach will be the key to helping you reach your own goals.Timestamped Show Notes(2:57) Giving credit to Tokyo, the first Olympic venue since Covid…(8:00) Prepping through the pandemic and working through an injury…(9:29) A weight challenge…(12:08) “I'm still, you know, a work in progress. And that's one thing you have to understand, things don't happen overnight.”(15:50) Approach to injuries…(19:08) “But at the end of the day, I let not those goals consume or control me or just make my life around that thing.”(20:49) Driven by passion or achievement…(25:59) Some unexpected training regimens…(28:23) Competition, technology, and more improved shoes…(33:18) “If I'm getting ready for New York, Boston, or Olympic trials, that's something I usually give myself six, seven months just to build up to be the best as I can be.”(37:08) Keeping everything in balance…(40:07) Lessons learned while writing a book…(41:52) “To be honest, don't let the goals consume you.”References:Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun - AmazonEveryone has a right to have hope w/ Abdi Abdirahman - Go Be More PodcastGuest:Abdi Abdirahman - website | Instagram | TwitterHosts:Jon Rankin - gobemore.co | @chasejonrankinBryan Green - maketheleapbook.com | @maketheleapbookLearn More:UCAN - ucan.co | @genucanYour Personal Best Awaits

In episode 112, I spoke with elite runner Abdihakim “Abdi” Abdirahman. With a Olympic trials marathon time of 2:10:03, Abdirahman earned his place on the US Olympic team for the fifth time. He was 43 then, which not only made him the elder statesman on the 2020 US Olympic marathon team, but the oldest American runner ever to qualify for an Olympic marathon. Aged 44, Abdirahman is also the oldest American runner to make an Olympic team. In this conversation we spoke about: Questions from the audience; Diversity in running and changes he'd like to see; Marathon training tips; What motivates him and what keeps him running; What he'd like to do when he stops competing as an elite athlete; Shoutout to his training partner with Sir Mo Farah; His reflection on the Tokyo Olympic Marathon; How he views failure; Discusses his new book Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun; What's next post Olympics; What he'd like to see for the future of running; Plus so much more. You can follow him on Instagram @abdiruns Photo by Kevin C. Cod ————————————————————— Thank you to my patreons your help pays for editing, equipment and much more. If you value the content I deliver, please consider becoming a supporter of my podcast by donating via my patreon page. This helps me provide quality content. https://www.patreon.com/ARunnersLife --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marcus-brown9/support

Abdi Abdirahman is a 5-time Olympian and the oldest American runner to qualify for the Olympics. He is the oldest male to podium at the NYC Marathon, and USATF's master's record holder in the marathon. Abdi is also a 4-time USATF champ in the 10k and a 5-time road racing champion at distances from 10 miles to the marathon. In other words, he's one of the best runners ever to represent the United States. He's also found the time to become a new author. I'm thrilled he's written his first book to get an even deeper inside look into his mind.  Check it out here: Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun Today's conversation gives a glimpse of his laid back, lighthearted personality that contributes to Abdi's amazing longevity in the sport. We explore topics of: Balance between training and life outside of running Changes that Abdi has seen over the years When to be serious and when to relax How running "strength" evolves over time Links & Resources from the Show: Follow Abdi on Twitter and Instagram Read more about Abdi at the Tokyo Olympics Get his new book Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun Thank You InsideTracker! Our show is supported by our longtime sponsor InsideTracker. Today, more than ever, it's essential that we're making the right decisions to keep our bodies healthy. To help us be resilient, prevent over-training, and optimize our running to get the most from it. InsideTracker is the ultra-personalized nutrition platform that analyzes your blood and DNA biomarkers along with your lifestyle habits to help you optimize your body and reach your goals. InsideTracker's patented system will transform your body's data into knowledge, insights, and a customized action plan of science-backed recommendations. The data can help you determine whether you're running too much, not enough, or have some other issues that could be affecting your recovery or performance. I've had my own blood drawn with InsideTracker several times and have been amazed at the valuable information that they provide. Not only are the results very detailed, but they also share guidance for how to improve any markers that are out of range. If you're ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, InsideTracker offers a selection of plans that best suit your needs with a limited time 25% discount. Thank You PATH Projects! PATH Projects continues to be a great supporter of this podcast! I'm grateful for their partnership and want to share more about their products that I've been loving because they so durable and comfortable. PATH Projects is an online-only retailer of high-quality running gear and apparel. That means there is no retail markup, making their products quite affordable. In particular, I've just started wearing their 3” Sykes shorts and they're a little different from the 5” Sykes shorts (you can see those in action here). The material is thinner and lighter, which is perfect in a performance short, and they're obviously shorter. I'm not sure if my wife thinks they're too scandalous or loves them, but I'm wearing them constantly. PATH uses new technical fabrics, like the Japanese fiber called Toray Primeflex, to create award-winning apparel for endurance athletes. In fact, their Brim shorts and Tahoe base liner won Runner's World's 2018 Gear of the Year award. And the Pyrinees hoodie was named one of the best six sweatshirts for running in the cold by Gear Patrol. You know you'll be wearing the best when you select PATH Projects!

Reaction to Ted Lasso S2E4 and the opening week of the Premier League season followed by an interview with Olympic legends Bernard Lagat and Abdi Abdirahman. 

“If you get me talking about things that happened in college or I think about races in college I can just spiral in my own head and get frustrated and kind of disappointed with myself in the way things turned out. It's definitely in the back of my mind. I would like to prove to myself that I do belong, whether it be at the NCAA level or the professional level, I just believe inherently that I am talented enough to do it. I just have to be patient and let it kind of come to me rather than go searching for it…I think Peachtree, although it's just one result and doesn't mean all that much in the grand scheme of the running world, it has meant a lot for me and validating what I've been doing for the last year and half, two years.” This is Fred Huxham's first podcast and I am super excited to introduce him to you. Fred, who is 25 years old, just placed second at the Peachtree Road Race on July 4 in 28:45. That race was the 10K national championships and he finished just two seconds behind Sam Chelanga and a few places ahead of Galen Rupp, Jake Riley, and Abdi Abdirahman, the three men who will represent the United States at the Olympic Marathon in Tokyo. In this conversation, we talked about Peachtree, how it went down, and what that performance means to Fred at this point of his career. He told me how he ended up in New Hampshire, training with Ben True and Dan Curts, and what the next few months look like for him from a competitive standpoint. We talked about his high school career at Redwood in California and his relationship with coaches Laura and Jake Schmitt—both of whom I've had on this podcast, so check out those episodes if you haven't already. Fred described the process of overcoming periods of frustration and disappointment during his collegiate career, explained why he's got a chip on his shoulder, how he uses that to his advantage, and a lot more. Complete show notes: https://themorningshakeout.com/podcast-episode-169-with-fred-huxham/ Sign up here to get the morning shakeout email newsletter delivered to your inbox every Tuesday morning: www.themorningshakeout.com/subscribe/ Support the morning shakeout on Patreon: www.patreon.com/themorningshakeout

Abdi Abdirahman is a Somolian born runner and is a five time Olympian competing for the United States in the 10,000m and marathon. He made his 5th Olympic team at... The post Episode 326: Abdi Abdirahman – 5x Olympian racing the marathon in Tokyo appeared first on Lindsey Hein.

Abdi's World is the story of Abdi Abdirahman's life starting when he left his home in Somalia in 1991 with his parents and siblings. Abdi was just barely a teen at the time. He and his family went from having a middle-class lifestyle to having only each other, but Abdi expresses gratitude throughout the book for the many people who helped him along the way.  Abdi will represent the USA in the 2021 Olympics in the marathon, and is the oldest prson to qualify for a US Olympic team. He has had a long and successful career in running, and his journey, as well as the book, spans six Olympic cycles!One thing that Abdi doesn't seem to pay much attention to is when people try to tell him that it might be time to retire his running shoes. He loves the sport and tries to learn from each experience. The book is divided into six Olympic cycles which each have a lesson:PART I: SYDNEY 2000 - A LESSON IN POSSIBILITIESPART II: ATHENS 2004 - A LESSON IN BELONGINGPART III: BEIJING 2008 - A LESSON IN BELIEFPART IV: LONDON 2012 - A LESSON IN HUMILITYPART V: RIO DE JANEIRO 2016 - A LESSON IN PERSEVERANCEPART VI: TOKYO 2020-21 - A LESSON IN UNITYAbdi Abdirahman is the only American distance runner to qualify for five Olympic Games. Born in Somalia, he came to Tucson, Arizona, at age 16 after his family escaped civil war in their home country. He became an American citizen in 2000 and has represented the United States at the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and soon the 2020 Olympics to be held in 2021. If you are interested in getting a copy of Abdi's World, it is available on the Soulstice Publishing website at https://soulsticepublishing.com/product/abdi-book/ Big thank you to the publisher, Soulstice Publishing, for providing a review copy of the book, and to author, Abdi Abdirahman, for speaking with us. A special thanks to Rebekah Epstein for reaching out to suggest this fantastic read!Any feedback or suggestions on this review or any of our other podcast episodes would be greatly welcomed. Leave us a review using your favorite podcast player or contact us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runningbookreviews/Twitter: https://twitter.com/reviews_runningInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/runningbookreviews/Podcast webpage: https://runningbookreviews.buzzsprout.com 

In what may our final interview before the start of the Tokyo games, we thought it was fitting to bring you an interview with an athlete who's about to head there himself. We chat with Abdi Abdirahman about his history as a distance runner in the Olympics going back over 20 years to Sydney, his preparations for Tokyo, and why he has no plans to retire yet. He also tells us all about his new book titled Abdi's World which will be coming out very soon.

Abdi Abdirahman knows how to run for a long time. He's the only American distance runner to have qualified for 5 Olympics, 3 Games at 10000m and 2 at the marathon distance. He'll be running the marathon at Tokyo 2020, so we and Book Club Claire talked with him about how both of these races work and what's up with the controversial Nike Vaporfly road shoes. Abdi has also written a book about his life and his approach to running. Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun will be out in August, and you can pre-order your copy here. Follow Abdi on Insta! What are our TKFLASTANIs up to this week? We've got news from: Hammer thrower DeAnna Price Decathlete Jordan Gray Water polo Olympian Tony Azevedo Runner/Chaplain Madeline Mims Olympian/Film Director John MacLeod In Tokyo 2020 news: We've got new information about the International Olympic Committee's protest ban. The Tokyo Organizing Committee has also backpedaled from its initial decision to ban athletes' children who are breastfeeding. Columbia's bit hit by a doping penalty (guess which sport). The Japanese postal service has found an ingenious way to commemorate Team Japan's gold medal performances at these Olympics. The International Paralympic Committee has named its refugee team. Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!   Photo: Team USA   ***  Keep the Flame Alive: The Podcast for Fans of the Olympics and Paralympics with hosts Jill Jaracz & Alison Brown   Support the show: Tell a friend: http://flamealivepod.com Bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/flamealivepod Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/flamealivepod   Hang out with us online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamealivepod Insta: http://www.instagram.com/flamealivepod Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/flamealivepod Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312069749587022 Newsletter: Sign up at http://flamealivepod.com VM/Text: (208) FLAME-IT / (208) 352-6348  

@abdiruns took the time between runs to talk to me about his some of his Olympic success, favorite cities to race in, training, motivation and some tips for us normal runners! . Abdi is currently in full flight training for his 5th appearance at the Olympics. The Summer Olympics in Tokyo will be epic and Abdi will be there AGAIN representing America! I have had a bunch of athletes on the show, but this dudes competitive drive is HEAVY!!! . Check out the episode and make sure you follow @abdiruns and @chiptimerunning

“People know me as Abdi the distance runner, the funny guy, just outgoing, and that's all good, but they don't know the reason I came to the U.S.—how did I end up here, what was my choice, that struggle behind me getting here, at the end of the day, your parents, your family, what they've been through to get here. And that's the difficult part of the book, because that just brings back some memories because of the civil war in Somalia. It's not like one day I woke up and said, ‘Hey, I'm going to go to America.' It wasn't that easy. It was one day you woke up and you don't know what the future holds for you, you don't know where you're going to get your next meal, what happened, because it was a civil war. At the end of the day I'm thankful for everything that I've been through, and it's made me the person who I am today, but it wasn't the easiest though.” Abdi Abdirahman is one of my favorite people in the sport and I am super excited to share this episode with you. The 44-year-old is a five-time Olympian and he'll represent the United States in the marathon at this summer's Games in Japan. Abdi also has a new book coming out soon. It's called Abdi's World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun and it's due out in July. In this conversation, we talked about making his fifth Olympic team and how he's feeling three months out from the Olympic Marathon. He told me about growing up in Somalia, coming to the United States when he was 7 years old, and how that experience shaped his perspective and outlook on life. We talked about his longevity in the sport, his relationship with running and what it means to him beyond just competition and his career, and why he's gone to Ethiopia to train in recent years. Abdi also discussed his upcoming book, giving back to his community and establishing a charitable foundation built around hope, and a lot more. This episode is brought to you by: — BOA. BOA wants you to get dialed in, locked in, and connected to the trail in the new BOA-powered La Sportiva Cyklon. Available in men's and women's, every aspect of the shoe is engineered to deliver revolutionary fit and performance on the trail, and was designed and tested in BOA's state of the art Performance Fit Lab to improve running efficiency and reduce landing impact. BOA is exclusively offering four morning shakeout listeners the opportunity to win a free pair of the Cyklon. To enter, head over to boafit.com/Mario. Complete show notes: https://themorningshakeout.com/podcast-episode-162-with-abdi-abdirahman/ Sign up here to get the morning shakeout email newsletter delivered to your inbox every Tuesday morning: www.themorningshakeout.com/subscribe/ Support the morning shakeout on Patreon: www.patreon.com/themorningshakeout

We talk with Abdi about his amazing career, and how he's remained one of the best runners in the US for over 20 years:Beginnings- His family's journey from Somalia to Tucson, Arizona and why they ended up there- His father's education and career as an engineer and his mom's background working for the President of Somalia- The diverse experiences and career paths he and his siblings have taken, and why his younger brother gave up running despite having some obvious ability- Why Abdi loves running and believes in the saying, "Find something you love to do in life and you'll never work a day in your life"- The amazing story of how Abdi got discovered at Pima Community College, the all-comers track meet that inspired him to try running, and his amazing first practice- The full ride scholarship University of Arizona coach Dave Murray gave him despite his lack of times to justify it- His favorite memory from his two years at U of A, winning the 5k and 10k at the PAC-10 championships over Meb and the Hauser brothersHis Philosophy- How Abdi has been able to sustain his love of running over such a long and successful career, and his emphasis on always remaining a gracious winner or loser- Abdi's ability to always maintain perspective on his running, and how he always gave himself time to fix the problems and didn't let one race--or one year--define him or his enjoyment- The people who support you on your path to success that nobody pays attention to- How far a little "good job" can go in running- Why he believes we all have a right to have hopeHis Pro Career- How he qualified for the World Championships in 1999 but couldn't go because of a passport issue- His experience at the Sydney Olympics and why he felt it was one of the best Olympics ever- How he got caught up in the battle between Haile Gebrselassie and Paul Tergat and could have finished even higher in Sydney- How he used his email address as a constant reminder of his goal to make the Athens Olympics in 2004- His first indication that the coronavirus might disrupt the elite racing schedule and the Olympics- His book project and his appreciation for the recreational runners who make up the backbone of the sport- And we discuss why so many great runners seem to come from the same villages, including Abdi, Mo Farah, Mo Ahmed, Hassan Mead, and Bashir Abdi and others all coming from Hargeisa in Somalia.If you liked this episode, check out our interviews with Bob Larsen and Merhawi Keflezighi (Meb's brother).And, you can now get these show notes sent directly to your email. Sign up here!Recorded July 17, 2020.References:Sydney 10000m (Haile vs Tergat) - YouTube2020 US Olympic Trials Marathon - YouTubeGuest:Abdi Abdirahman - @abdirunsHosts:Bryan Green - @sendaibry, Go Be More BlogJon Rankin - @chasejonrankin, Go Be MoreLinks:Go Be More websiteGo Be More YouTube ChannelFeedbackSubscribe on your favorite player:Simplecast

5x Olympic qualifier (once the Tokyo games, happen, we'll change that to 5x Olympian!), oldest American Olympic runner, and many other accolades describe Abdi Abdirahman, our latest guest. Abdi shares training, life, racing and the approaches that have elevated him to the highest level for decades. For the complete details, visit atozrunning.com/episode42

Abdi Abdirahman's running bio is quite remarkable. After moving to the USA at age twelve from Somalia, Abdi went on to discover his running talent after impressing a US Coach following what was Abdi's longest run in a pair of jeans. Following a Nike sponsorship Abdi's career soared. It spanned 4 Olympic Games and in February 2020 Abdi at 43 years of age, he became the US's oldest mature Olympian where he snagged 3rd place just behind episode 209 featured performer Jake Riley at the US Marathon Olympic Trials. Abdi boasts some impressive PB's 2:08:56 in the marathon, 60:29 in the Half Marathon just behind Haile Gebrselassie as you'll hear Abdi reference today, 28:11 for 10km and 13:13 for 5000m. Abdi took out 3rd place in the 2019 New York City Marathon and you will enjoy learnings today from Abdi around the power of staying relaxed, not letting your age define your performance or your perspective. Longevity tips, earning respect, training with the great Mo Farah, tapering tips and keeping things simple. SUBSCRIBE NOW! This episode is sponsored by run2pb run2pb offers online run coaching, it was established in 2018, and has quickly become the leading choice for runners who want to improve their running with a personalised and structured training program under the guidance of a expert coach.   run2pb can help you reach a new Parkrun 5km PB, break that elusive sub 3hr marathon, or complete your first trail run.   As a special offer to all Pogo/Physical Performance Show listeners, use the code " POGO" when signing up to any run2pb program and receive 10% off.  Visit www.run2pb.co to sign up today. If you enjoyed this episode of The Physical Performance Show please hit SUBSCRIBE for to ensure you are one of the first to future episodes. Jump over to POGO Physio - www.pogophysio.com.au for more details Follow @Brad_Beer Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat Please direct any questions, comments, and feedback to the above social media handles.

Abdi Abdirahman is an American long-distance runner.  He is a five-time Olympian competing for the United States in the 10,000 meters and the marathon.  Known as the “Black Cactus’ he recently finished 3rd in the 2020 US Olympic Trials in Atlanta at age 43 becoming the oldest American runner ever to make the Olympic Team. 

The fabulous 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials are in the books (full coverage here). Galen Rupp delivered once again, Aliphine Tuliamuk ended HOKA ONE ONE Marathon Month on LetsRun.com in the grandest way possible by pulling the huge upset, as Molly Seidel delivered in her debut, Jake Riley made his return more than complete, so did Sally Kipyego, and 43 year-old Abdi Abdirahman became the 1st 5 time male track and field Olympian in the US. We break it all down, talk shoes, and the party scene in Atlanta. Plus Karissa Schweizer's stunning American record upset over Shelby Houlihan and yes of course Mary Cain and the crazy results from the Tokyo Marathon: the shoes have totally changed the game in the marathon. Podcast is sponsored by HOKA ONE ONE. 17 HOKA Athletes ran the Trials (and we shared all their cool stories here), and yes Aliphine Tuliamuk, who was on last week's podcast, won them. 100% of the tips of this episode go to LRC's Jonathan Gault: 1x or monthly tips accepted: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/letsrun Show notes:Beginning: Rupp delivers, Aliphine Tuliamuk breaks the LRC jinx, battle for 3rd on men's side, Molly Seidel, Abdi, making sense of it all22:40 Shoe talk37:43 More non-shoe Trials talk: Mike Smith's coaching tree, African born Americans46:44 Rupp's human side53:37 Was Alberto at the Trials?56:40 Who was the biggest loser at the Trials? Scott Fauble? Des Linden? Jordan Hasay?67:53 Party scene in Atlanta: Bob Kennedy sighting / Brian Shrader77:04 Biggest women's surprise?79:19 2020 Tokyo Marathon: The shoes have totally changed the game: 28th place 2:09:50. 2:17 a great women's time?!87:07 Fast times at BU / Karissa Schweizer American record at 3,000m Support LetsRun.com's Track Talk by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/letsrun We'd love your feedback here in addition to you rating us on itunes or your favorite podcast app! https://pinecast.com/feedback/letsrun/f00b8b43-21cf-4338-b571-ed8fe65c673f

There's only one man who's completed all 48 AJC Peachtree Road Races so far...you'll hear from him this week. Plus, elite runner Abdi Abdirahman's enthusiasm for running continues even into his 40's...and he has a bold prediction about this year's race. Mizuno's Chris Hollis also joins us to talk about this year's Peachtree gear - including the shoes!

Carrie interviews 4-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman! He chats about starting a new training group with Mo Farah, training for the Boston Marathon, and much more. Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com. Abdi Abdirahman Abdi Abdirahman is a Somali-born American distance runner.  Abdi competed in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics in the 10,000m, and was on the 2012 US Olympic Marathon marathon team. Abdi also has four U.S. 10,000m titles. Abdi and his girlfriend, professional runner Diane Nukuri, live and train in Arizona.

Four-time U.S. Olympian Abdi Abdirahman joins the CITIUS MAG Podcast ahead of Sunday's TCS New York City Marathon. He is this year's top returning American after his third place finish in last year's race, which resurrected his career after a string of injuries. He's 40 years old so he shares his thoughts on how much longer he may be able to go, Meb's retirement party and what is was like missing a fifth Olympic team. Abdirahman also touches on some fun topics like his plans to develop runners in Somalia, the nutrition and hydration strategy of East African runners, what's his greatest race, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Blue Jeans Mile (people forget that he use to make his own jeans) and a heated debate on what LeBron James can run for the mile.  This episode was brought to you by Maurten. If you’re interested in marathon investigations then there’s a chance that you’re also a marathon or road runner. If so, you should fuel properly for those long distance races and we recommend Maurten. It’s the world’s most carbohydrate-rich sports drink and it’s being used by the top marathoners in the world. Eliud Kipchoge used it during the Breaking2 attempt and the Berlin Marathon. Kenenisa Bekele has been using it since winning the 2016 Berlin Marathon. Mo Farah even used it prior to his gold medal runs at the world championships. It worked for me at the Berlin Marathon and it could work for you. They have two drinks with 40 or 80 grams of carbohydrates and they’re now available in the U.S. Check them out today at Maurten.com CITIUS MAG PODCAST LISTENERS GET 20% OFF THEIR NEXT ORDER: Use promo code CMP20 at checkout.

RunRunLive 4.0 Episode 4-301, Dave McGillivray and Heart Disease in Runners (Audio: link) [audio:http://www.RunRunLive.com/PodcastEpisodes/epi4301.mp3] Link epi4301.mp3 Intro Bumper: Intro:  Prelude: When I started the RunRunLive Podcast in July of 1857 it was a different world.  I know it hasn't been 150 years but it does seem like a long time ago.  Now here we are at the sharp and dangerous blade edge of another season or edition or chapter – whatever you want to call it.   I chose the meme of running plus living not to show the dichotomy or separation of the two but to highlight the synergy and union of them.  When you combine endurance sports into your life one plus one equals 3.   Running has opened up worlds for me.  I like to say it has transformed me, but that isn't quite the right way to put it.  I wasn't a 300 pound diabetic asthmatic on the edge of physical extinction.  I was a normal, family guy stuck instead in the corporate grindwheel of modern existence.   Maybe that's a form of existential extinction.  Running didn't so much transform me as it enabled me to realize my own potential.  It snapped the strictures that tied me down and allowed me to transcend.  It broke my frame of reference and allowed my light to leak out into the world in a new way.   And that, my friends is what I still want to do.  I want you to come see the light.  We live in a time of great epidemic.  I don't mean Ebola or Aids.  I mean the epidemic of people not believing in themselves, not believing in positive change and not trying because they are constantly being told that they can't make a difference.   You can make a difference.  You can make a difference in your own life and in the lives of others by what you do, what you say and how you approach life.   I can make a difference too, for you, for me and for those tiny humans that I brought into this world.  Frankly, I don't care if you run or jog or walk or wriggle like a snake to Elvis love songs.  What concerns me is that you do nothing.  That you think small.  That you feel like you have nothing to give.  That it has all been done.  That you're not smart enough, not fast enough, not rich enough or not talented enough to make a difference in this world of ours.  What scares me is that you are afraid to try.   If all you can offer is a smile or a hug then please for God's sake give it today, give it now, because that is a tremendous gift that is in short supply.  90% of my days go by without either! What can I give?  What can RunRunLive give?  What small stone can we toss into the shimmering pool of humanity?  What ripples can we make?   For this version of the Podcast we will continue in mostly the same vein as version 3.  I'll structure it to fit in to a less-than-one-hour envelope.  I'll retain the 20+ minute interview with someone who can show us the achievement of honest synergy.  I'm going to move the running tips segment to the front half of the show and try to make it useful to you.   Likewise I'll retain the life skills segment that I think many people like and move that to the back half.  I'll keep up the intro and the outro comments.  Not that you care so much about what is going in on my life, but just some context and frame and storytelling to glue it all together.   I'm not going to drop in any more music, even though I can't for the life of me understand why some of you apparently hate punk rock and ska… That's it, no big changes, just a little shuffling.   Then why would I pause and take this time to ponder a new format?  This is topic that deserves more ink, but in short, because I believe in the power of introspection.  At some point as we draw into the New Year you should pause for introspection on your life and goals and direction too.  It can ignite an epiphany.   I reserve the right to change my mind.  I reserve the right to change your mind as well.  Are you ready to get out there?   Intro: Hello, my friends and welcome to the RunRunLive 4.0 podcast.  My name, is Chris, actually Christopher, which, if you want to talk about morphemes, is Greek for Christ Carrier and I've missed you.  Seems like ages since we have chatted.  What have I been up to?  There is so much that It's hard to summarize.   On the life front I quit my job, left my family and moved to a 50 acre ranch in Pioneer Kansas to raise yaks full time.  It's a peaceful plot of land amongst the industrial farms straddling Spring Creek.  I got myself 50 head of good breeding yaks.   The running is good too and I've constructed some interesting trails but there aren't a whole lot of hills.  The professional hit man business was fairly frantic throughout the fall so I spent a lot of time on the road.  Unfortunately, while I was gone the yaks went feral and now I have to be careful because they've organized and plot attacks against me when I leave the house.  It can be startling when you're lost in the peaceful reverie of a long run and one of those crazed, shaggy-headed beasts comes crashing out of the alfalfa at you.  ‘Yak Attack' would be a good name for a band. But – that's all personal fluff and stuff – you don't care about that.   On the running side I've just been working on maintaining my base and staying healthy since my 15 minutes of fame at the New York City Marathon.  I tried an experiment a couple weeks ago to see if I could run or more than an hour every day for 7 days straight.  Just to see if I could take the load.  The runs felt pretty good but my old and angry nemesis the plantar fasciitis flared up by day five and I aborted that flight of fancy.  Kudos to me to be able to set that quest aside and not hurt myself.  I've been logging most of my runs in the woods with Buddy the old Wonder Dog.  Including a nice nighttime headlamp run for 1:30 the day after the Thanksgiving snow storm.  I've got a good base and I'm not injured.  We're going to talk a bit about running in the snow in the first bit of today's episode.  Poor Buddy was pretty beat up by that run. He's definitely slowing down.  He was standing at the top of the stairs looking at them the way I look at them the day after a hard marathon.  He still gets pissed if I don't take him.  I won't take him on the road anymore, only the trails, off lease so he can pace himself.   If the hikers want to yell at me for having him off leash they can bite me.  That dog is 80 years old and still gets after it like a pro.  They should be so lucky when they're his age.  The other big adventure I've had this fall is around my own advancing decrepitude.   I know, it's all relative, you're rolling your eyes, here's this running geek who does back to back marathons in October complaining about fitness and performance. Truth is I haven't been able to muster a qualifying race since, I think, Boston 2011.  That's a long time ago.  I'm still; looking for race fitness since taking the 18 months or so off with the plantar fasciitis.   This fall I've taken the time to schedule all my general maintenance and upkeep appointments.  I got a physical, had my bloodwork done and got my eyes checked.  Basically checking the tire pressure and the oil.  Since I'm past the half-century mark my doctor scheduled me for a colonoscopy.  Which is a funny story.   Meanwhile, I've been bugged by my heart rate wigging out on me in long hard efforts so I asked him to set me up with a cardio appointment as well.  Not because anything is overtly wrong, just to make sure.  I don't want to go out for a run and not come back.  I owe to the yaks.  If the answer is “you're old” I'm ok with that, I just want to be safe.  Which plays into our interview of Dave McGilivary today about his adventures with heart disease.  I spent a week ‘prepping' for the colonoscopy, which is fairly miserable and involves a diet that is antithetical to what I'm used to, then slamming a variety of laxatives in large doses.  They want your colon to be squeaky clean when they go in there with their camera on a stick.   In the hospital, lying naked on a gurney, waiting for the anesthesiologist, I'm a bit nervous.  My resting heart rate, as you know is normally around 40 beats per minute.  Since I'm nervous I start doing some breathing meditation and it drops to 34-35.  Alarms are going off from the leads they have stuck on me.  The anesthesiologist does an EKG to make sure I'm not dying.  My heart, they tell me, stops beating for up to 2.5 seconds at a time.  I'm like, ‘yeah, so?'  What do you want it to be?  I can control it by thinking about it.  The colon guy wants to go ahead but the cardiologist on call says ‘no'.  4 days of prep, 3 hours of lying around naked in the hospital with leads stuck on me, and they send me home.  The irony here is that I was by far the healthiest person in that place.  They're wheeling in a parade of sick people, but I'm too fucking healthy to get a camera stuck quip my ass.  The world is a crazy place.  Since then I've been to the cardio and had the stress test and echo cardiogram that show there's nothing wrong with my heart.  I think I have a bit of an arrhythmia in one of my valve when I surge after 40 minutes of running.  That's what my data shows but they don't want to see my data.  Their 20 minute stress test was a nice hill workout but hardly long enough to stimulate the symptoms I'm seeing.  We'll see what the clowns in this circus think when I go back for my consult before Christmas.  Until that point I'm just going to keep doing what I do.  Every day above ground is sacred.  Every footfall crunching the snow, clutching the ground and driving me forward is a sacred act that I savor.  On with the show! (feels good to say that again my friends) Section one - Running tips Cold and snow running - http://runrunlive.com/snow-ho-ho Voices of reason – the interviews Dave McGillivray Dave McGillivray is a U.S.-based race director, philanthropist, author and athlete. In 1978, he ran across the U.S. to benefit the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.[1] Presently he is race director of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon and his team at DMSE, Inc. have organized numerous mass participatory fundraising endurance events since he founded it in 1981. Here are a few of his many career highlights: In 1978, McGillivray ran across the U.S. from Medford, Oregon to his hometown of Medford, Mass., covering a total distance of 3,452 miles and ending to a standing ovation in Fenway Park. His effort raised thousands of dollars for the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Two years later, he ran 1,520 miles from Winter Haven, Fla., to Boston to raise money for the Jimmy Fund, even meeting with President Jimmy Carter at the White House during the run. In 1982, McGillivray ran the Boston Marathon in 3:14 while blindfolded and being escorted by two guides to raise more than $10,000 for the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Mass. McGillivray's many endurance events for charity are legendary, including running 120 miles in 24 hours thru 31 Mass. cities; an 86-story, 1,575-step run up Empire State Building in 13 minutes and 27 seconds; and running, cycling and swimming 1,522 miles thru six New England states while raising $55,000 for the Jimmy Fund. In 2003, McGillivray created the DMSE Children's Fitness Foundation to support non-profit organizations that use running to promote physical fitness in children and help solve the epidemic of childhood obesity. In 2004, McGillivray and a team of veteran marathon runners journeyed across the country following the same path he took in 1978, raising more than $300,000 for five charities benefiting children. Each year he runs his birthday age in miles, starting when he was 12, and has not missed one yet.  He was born on Aug. 22, 1954 – you can do the math.  The race director of the Boston Marathon as well as an accomplished runner, McGillivray has run the marathon each year since 1973. For 16 years he ran it with all the other runners and since he began working with the race in 1988 he has run the course afterwards.  His 2006 book, “The Last Pick”, which he co-wrote with Linda Glass Fechter, chronicles his childhood and career as the last pick for team sports because of his small stature, motivating readers to never underestimate their own ability to set and achieve goals. Order here on Amazon.  A skilled motivational speaker, McGillivray has displayed his signature ability to engage and inspire listeners to more than 1,600 audiences from corporate executives to high school students. McGillivray has received numerous awards –  valedictorian at both his high school and college, 2005 Running USA Hall of Champions, 2007 Runner's World Heroes of Running Award, the 2010 Fleet Feet Lifetime Commitment to Running Award, 2010 Ron Burton Community Service Award, the 2011 Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center's 2011 100 list, and inducted into the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame in 2011 and the prestigious "Jimmy Award"  by the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for 30 years of contributing time and expertise to help raise millions for cancer research and treatment.  McGillivray has logged more than 150,000 miles, most for charity, raising millions for worthy causes.  He's completed 126 marathons and competed in eight Hawaii Ironman Triathlons. His personal bests? Marathon: 2:29:58 and for the Ironman: 10:36:42 Section two – Life Skills Working on the important stuff - http://runrunlive.com/the-efficiency-trap Outro And so it goes.  It's a momentum thing, isn't it my friends?  If you can start you can keep going and soon repetition becomes habit and habit becomes a body of work.  I have to admit it was hard to get this jump started again – but now that we have it should get easier.  Just finished the book “Running with the Buffaloes”.  It documents a season of the Colorado University cross country team.  It is the year that Adam Goucher won the NCAA meet beating out Abdi Abdirahman and Bernard Lagat.  What I found interesting was the training they went through.  These are 20 year old kids, mind you.  They were running 100+ mile weeks, in singles all through the summer leading into the season and held that volume in the 80's and 90's right through the season.  As they came into the racing season they layered on a bunch of high quality anaerobic work as well.   Really shows you what you can get out of your machine if you do the work. On the flip side most of these guys were injured.  Adam made the Olympic trials but ended up having to retire early.  Abdi is still out there and ran the Olympic marathon with Meb in London 2012 – he DNF'ed.  Adam's wife Kara is still out there too.  She came in 11th to Shalane's 10th in London.   It was a good book if you're a running geek and readable in the sense that it has a real narrative vs just the technical bits.  I raced the Mill Cities Relay last Sunday with my club and had a great race.  I did a warm up of 2.5 miles at around an 8:05 pace then raced the 9.5 mile leg at a sub 7:30 – which I felt pretty good about.  I don't race that much anymore so it's hard to gauge my fitness.  Next weekend, Dec. 21st Brian and I are putting on the 2nd annual Groton Marathon.  This is a self-supported 26.2 mile run around my home town of Groton Mass.  No big thing just a bunch of us out having a long run and having fun.  You folks are more than welcome to come and run all or part of it with us.  Shoot me note if you're interested.  I was going to go down to Atlanta for the Jeff Galloway ½ this weekend but my life is just too busy to pull it off and I've been spending too many weekends on the road this fall.  I'm a bit fried.   I have, believe it or not a cruise coming up in January.  We'll see how I can navigate that and my training.  I'm going to have to miss my favorite New Year's Day race – the hangover classic up in Salisbury with its ocean plunge in the Atlantic.   The ‘How to qualify for the Boston Marathon in 12 weeks' is in editing.  Thanks for all the inquiries. I'm shooting to get a promotional copy out by the end of the calendar year and you all can help me promote it and then a launch in February.  It's been fun writing all this down, but challenging as well, because I really don't have room for more projects in my life! But, I have to follow my own advice and get something done.  The Groton Marathon will be my 48th marathon.  Currently I'd love to find another race in January or February to be my 49th marathon so I can run Boston this year as my 50th.  It's got a nice symmetry to it, right?   As for Boston I got a charity number again and I'll be running for the Hoyts even though Dick has retired from Boston.  I'm not sure if someone else is going to be pushing Ricky this year or not.   Those are my plans, as nebulous as they are, for now.  Remember celebrate every day and live in the now because this could very well be as good as it gets.  And I'll see you out there.  You can reach me, if you need to, at my website, which is due for an overhall, www.runrunlive.com and on all the social media platforms as cyktrussell.   Tagline Chris Russell lives and trains in suburban Massachusetts with his family and Border collie Buddy. Chris is the author of “The Mid-Packer's Lament”, and “The Mid-Packer's Guide to the Galaxy”, short stories on running, racing, and the human comedy of the mid-pack. Chris writes the Runnerati Blog at www.runnerati.com. Chris' Podcast, RunRunLive is available on iTunes and at www.runrunlive.com. Chris also writes for CoolRunning.com (Active.com) and is a member of the Squannacook River Runners and the Goon Squad Runners. Email me at cyktrussell at mail dot com Twitter @cyktrussell All other social media “cyktrussell”