FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Olympic Trials - Marathon: One Month Out Teleconference
January 14, 2016 -- Full audio of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials -
Marathon One Month Out teleconference
Meb Keflezighi
My career has taken another resurgence, and I feel delighted to be healthy
and strong at age 40 and to see if I can make another Olympic Team. But
four years ago, absolutely not. I didn't think I would be able to do what
I'm doing right now.
The key to the longevity in my career has been doing the small things that
make a big difference. I give you more details in my book Meant for
Mortals. But other than that, it's doing the small things whether it's
stretching, even as we speak right now I'm icing. It's not because I'm
injured, but I know I just worked very hard right now. I drove 45 minutes
to the Bishop and came back. It's doing the discipline and commitment and
also nutritionally how to recover. The running part is the easy part, but
what you do for yourself the next 22 hours. Running has a huge effect. I
feel blessed to have a good, good support team, sponsors and also people
who are committed to helping me be the best that I can. I am honored to be
able to delegate them to what I need to be done. I am so focussed on my
career and with my wife's help to allow me to get away from the family for
five weeks to train so she can spend time with the girls.
Nutritionally, recovery, training, drills - it's a 24-hour job, and I try
to do it the best that I can to keep doing it for another four weeks, and
we'll see what happens after that in terms of commitment for Olympic Trials
and hopefully for the Olympic Games if I have the great honor to represent
our country in four weeks.
Shalane Flanagan
Back in 2012, it was my second marathon, and my first one was New York City
in giving me the confidence to pursue the Olympic Dream. I faced a really
formidable field and did well and felt like this is my event, I think I can
excel at this. It gave me the confidence to try out for the Olympic Team in
2012. I was definitely really nervous because I had heard the horror
stories of how marathons don't always go your way, so I prepared very
meticulously and a little bit out of fear that I wouldn't have a good
experience. I went in very well prepared and in anticipation. It was just a
very tough race. I think because I have that mentally, I excelled and had
another great experience.
It's always fun to say that you've won a marathon and it's the only
marathon I've actually ever done to this day. It's a very special race to
me, so I'm looking very forward to all these kind of experiences culminate
in another very challenging marathon coming up in a month from now. I think
it's always nice to win the Olympic Trials. However for the three men and
women that cross the finish line, it's just a big celebration, so I'm
looking forward to just being one of those three for sure.
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