26 Marathons: What I Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from My Marathon Career

by Meb Keflezighi, Scott Douglas

Four-time Olympian Meb Keflezighi shares lessons learned from each of the 26 marathons he's run in his storied career.

When Meb Keflezighi ran his final marathon in New York City on November 5, 2017, it marked the end of an extraordinary distance-running career. As the first person in history to win both the Boston and New York City marathons as well as an Olympic marathon medal, Meb’s legacy is forever cemented.

Meb's last marathon was also his 26th, and each of those marathons has come with its own unique challenges, rewards, and outcomes. In 26 Marathons, take on those legendary races alongside Meb—every hill, bend, and unexpected turn of events that made each marathon an exceptional learning experience, and a fascinating story.

26 Marathons offers the wisdom Meb has gleaned about life, family, identity, and faith in addition to tips about running, training, and nutrition. He shows runners of all levels how to apply the lessons he's learned to their own running and lives. Equal parts inspiration and practical advice, 26 Marathons provides an inside look at the life and success of one of the greatest runners living today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Memoir, Audiobook, Biography, Biography Memoir, Health

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 19, 2019

About the author

Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi is an American athlete, specializing in long distance running. He and his family were refugees from Eritrea via Italy to the United States, when he was age 12.

He is the driving force behind the MEB Foundation, the "MEB" standing for "Maintaining Excellent Balance," which principally promotes healthy living, and other positive lifestyle choices and motivation for school-age youth.

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a runner/racer for twenty five or so years, once I had to give up running due to too many injuries, I quit cold turkey, my obsession with reading all things running. That was the only way I could keep myself from taking up running again. But now, many years later, I saw this book on NetGalley and knew I could read it since I've successfully replaced running with other types of exercise that I enjoy.

I wasn't totally oblivious to the running world and was familiar with the name Meb Keflezighi, especially since marathons were one of my favorite races. Meb is the first person in history to win an Olympic medal, the New York Marathon, and the Boston marathon. Meb was 42 years old when he retired from his extraordinary distance-running career but he's still a runner and his heart is with all runners of all distances and all speeds. In this book he tells about each of the 26 marathons that he ran and the lessons he learned from each one of them. These lessons that don't just relate to running but to life, all aspects of life and can be applied to each of us, even if we've never run a step in our lives.

Thanks to this book, I'm back to reading about running. I know I'll be checking out the biography about Meb, Run to Overcome: The Inspiring Story of an American Champion's Long-Distance Quest to Achieve a Big Dream.

Published March 19th 2019. Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspirational but also fairly repetitive. Probably not enough for an entire book. Still love Meb tho, doesn't everyone?

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early in the book, Meb states that the book is going to be like having a conversation with him over the course of a run. I looked forward to the conversations I have with my running friends. You know, those intimate TMI details that people only seem comfortable confiding while sweat runs down their sports bra. That wasn't quite the conversation Meb has with his readers. Instead, he takes the long run to go over each of his 26 marathons discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly. I enjoyed reading his race strategies and methods he used to overcome obstacles during training and races. I liked how each chapter focused on one race, gave his race statistics at the beginning along with the key lesson he learned. Because he tried to separate out the discussion of the lesson learned, sometimes the chapters felt clunky but I quickly got used to the format. And, odd peeve, when he refers to events or lessons from other races, he refers to chapters instead of marathons. I know it is silly, but he chose to do a book moving from marathon to marathon. Carry that device throughout. But, my biggest disappointment with the book was how lacking it was in the personal life of Mr. Keflezighi. Anyone who has watched an interview or race with him or had the pleasure to meet him knows how personable he is. Somehow this was missing from the book as though someone came along and edited his personality out. I would have loved a book at twice the page count that included little things about his personal life. Mentions of his home life and family were few and far between. Us mere mortals want to know this stuff! I also recognize that the title states the books goal. I just wanted more! All that being said, I have already recommended this book to several people and if/when I ever run my first full marathon I will be rereading it myself. I just hope we get an actual personal memoir soon!

A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Crown Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura (laurasloaninglibrary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️⁣⁣⁣⁣
Rationale: Meb is one of those rare “celebrities” who is aware of his influence and seems genuinely humbled by it. That approachable demeanor was evident throughout this book; and the way that he views himself on the same playing field as everyone else is one of the reasons why he is so beloved in the sport of running.⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
𝗪𝐡𝐨 𝐈’𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐨: Any distance runner looking to mentally elevate their training⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝: Meb frames each of his marathons with a key lesson that he learned from it, and I thought that the format was fantastic. Is it possible to find the lessons from this book elsewhere? Probably. But one of my biggest takeaways was the value of continuing to show up. Meb raced more than most of his competitors, and while he didn’t always walk away with the win, he kept showing up and giving himself the chance to have a lucky day and walk away a champion.⁣
⁣
Some of my favorite “key lessons”:⁣
- Marathon #2: 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰⁣
- Marathon #3: 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳⁣
- Marathon #10: 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦⁣
- Marathon #17: 𝘎𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵⁣
⁣⁣
𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞: I’ll admit my bias here and concede that distance running is something I enjoy reading about, watching on TV, and whose athletes’ workouts I enjoy tracking via social media. The book was inspirational as a whole, but I can see how it would come across as repetitive to someone who wasn’t specifically interested in the sport.⁣

Check out all of my reviews over at @laurasloaninglibrary on Instagram

[Artūras Vaičekauskas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knyga ne tik apie maratonus, bet ir apie gyvenimo iššūkius kaip profesionaliam bėgikui.

Įsimintinos frazės:
a) Nubėk mylia mažiau, o ne daugiau, jeigu matai, kad ateityje, tai gali padaryti blogesnę įtaką kitiems bėgimams (taip pat ir su DNF (do not finish)).
b) Nei vienam maratone nesijautė pralaimėjęs, užėmus bet kurią vietą, jeigu randi savo klaidas ir žinai ką galima iš jų išmokti.
c) Geriau skaičiai ir disciplina nei motyvacijos antplūdžiai.
d) Treniruotės pirtelėje su rūbais, kad įgauti toleranciją karščiui.
e) Geriau mažiau treniruočių nei persitreniruoti.
f) Turi analizuoti savo konkurentus.

[Becky Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a competitive marathoner, I loved every chapter of 26 Marathons. From the perspective of one of America’s best and most beloved runners, it offers a personal glimpse into the countless triumphs and travails of a career in marathoning, and in each race itself. One of my biggest takeaways (other than even more respect for Meb) is the value of a long-term, give-yourself-a-shot approach. Meb raced way more than most of his competitors (well, besides Yuki Kawauchi), and while each race was not a grand slam, I believe he did hit a handful of those super special days because he gave himself so many opportunities to—major injuries, flawed build-ups, underdog status, and all. I expect to reread 26 Marathons in most of my marathon build-ups to come. (Also must give credit to coauthor Scott Douglas, who surely played a huge role in bringing the book to life.)

[Nathan Isaacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for anybody who calls themselves a marathoner and follows competitive distance running. #RunToWin

If you tell yourself, “Oh, I’m forty, my body aches more than it used to, I can’t do this, I can’t do that,” then those limitations you place on yourself can be self-defeating. You start trying not as hard, and then you don’t achieve what you are really capable of.
-Page 202

[Jacques Bezuidenhout · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent memoir about Meb and the 26 marathons he raced.

The format is quite nice in that each chapter presents a race and what went into, and came out of that specific race.

It does become slightly repetitive.

Meb seems like a really nice guy.

I liked getting the perspective in marathons from the elite runner's perspective.
It is amazing what these guys achieve.

[Lilly Minasyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While there is no doubt Meb has achieved great things and he is an inspiring person, the book felt very repetitive and too long (even though it was 230 pages).
It was okay.
I got excited when he mentioned Eliud’s name. I am looking forward to Eliud’s book. 🇰🇪

[Samma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well articulated lessons of running. I loved this book. I wish I read it in high school. This book helped me learn strategies for running and for life. Running is such a mental sport and Meb kelfezihi even says training is 90 percent physical/10 percent mental, while racing is 90 percent mental/10 percent physical. Meb is a marathon runner and running ultimately teaches you that Mindset is everything. Meb ran in the Olympics at 41 ( the oldest Olympic marathoner in history ). “So much of the marathon—and life—is a mental game. If you tell yourself, “Oh, I’m forty, my body aches more than it used to, I can’t do this, I can’t do that,“then those limitations you place on yourself can become self-defeating. You start trying not as hard, and then you don’t achieve what you’re really capable of.”( Meb 201)

I would have so much negative self talk when I raced in high school and if I was fully able to comprehend the impact of having a positive mindset when running , I would have been able to reach more of my potential. Realising that the race and life is greatly impacted by mindset is a life changing lesson and the book does a great job of showing and dissecting the mindset of a runner .

It was kind of repetitive but seeing Meb come back from many injuries , running on a fractured pelvis or with a ruptured quad was very inspirational.


Favourite lessons from the book :

“Focus on what you can control, and try not to be brought down by what you can’t control.” (181) and not waste mental energy on what you can’t control in race conditions ( and in life ).

“When I’m asked the secret to my success, I often say there is no secret, but the key is consistency. If I regularly got in my key workouts of long runs, tempo runs, and intervals at a good-but-not-amazing level, I felt like I could compete with anybody in the world.”(21)

“But when you’re ready and believe in yourself, the present is more telling than the past.” (40)

Set the right goals - “You’ll know when you’ve hit on the right ones. They’re the ones that will still call to you no matter how challenging things get. They’re the ones that make your life better just by chasing them.” (109)

Create back up goals so you don’t give up if you can’t reach your first goal and this was shown when Meb would race to win but if he couldn’t reach first place he re arrange his goal.

training by doing same staples long runs, tempo runs, and interval workouts & running at altitude as well as knowing when to stop and when to push.

[Krishna Kumaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learnt a lot about
- what sponsored elite athletes go through during their career. Having to worry about the pay cut during a major race is the last thing I might want.
- strategies that runners follow during a tough competition

Overall, I was never bored listening to his narration even if I felt it was bit repetitive sometimes.
Thank you for being a good ambassador for the sport, Meb!

[Paulius A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perskaitęs supranti skirtumą, kuo skiriasi treniruotis ir įveikti maratoną, ir bėgti maratoną, kad laimėtum. 26 maratonai - 26 skirtingos istorijos. Sakyčiau autoriams pavyko gerai perteikti maratonus per daug nesikartojant. Taip, kai kuriose vietose, buvo pojūtis aš tai jau skaičiau (nes pasiruošimas kiekvienam maratonui būdavo labai panašus, ir pats maratonas iš dalies yra rutina), bet tai neprailgdavo.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meb is an icon in the running world for a reason. Humble, a hard worker, and keenly aware of the example he sets within the running community, he is a unique runner and person. It was fun getting to ‘know’ him through this book! His storytelling through each marathon keeps the reader very engaged. Particularly for fellow runners, who relate closely to the highs and lows and successes and failures he recounts, it’s a fantastic read!

[DKeeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some readers may find this book repetitive, but I think it does a great job outlining the stages of a successful running career, whether you are recreational or competitive. Training for big race after big race can feel repetitive, but consistency is key, and as Meb does a fantastic job highlighting, there is so much to learn from each experience. This was a fantastic read as someone who is training for their first Boston, as it is a reminder of why we run, and how important it is to train and race for the right reasons.

[Paul DeHaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I really enjoyed the stories of the races, interwoven with practical tips about running. Stories of Meb's background were great as well.
I have started using several of the tips as I continue to run and plan for my next race.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I was inspired to read this book after reading a book by one of Keflezighi's teammates Deena Kastor. Keflezighi shares his experience of every single marathon he ran in his competitive running career. This book was very beneficial, especially on the subject of goal setting. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to better adapt to difficulties while running

[Joshua Fanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Running is an analogy for life. There are ups and downs, and you never know what’s going to happen on the course. But if you put in the work, if you do your best, the results will take care of itself.”

I loved this book!

[madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.5 stars]
i should really read more running books! this was fun if a bit repetitive in its writing.

[Kendra Cerqueira · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it being organized by each marathon he ran. Meb is such a positive influence in the running community and it was great to read his perspective on training and racing - also made me laugh when he discussed the familiar “WHY am I doing this” thoughts that apparently every one of us has

[hrrasmussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this before California international marathon and found comfort in Meb’s perspective of finding process-based wins and the love he has for running

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book written by a male athlete that I’ve read. Meb’s career is inspiring and motivational, however, the book rubbed me the wrong way. Early on I was thinking about all the responsibilities his wife took on to support his career and while he did acknowledge this (a bit at the end) I felt more recognition for her was due. When Meb would go away for months at a time to train she would be running the household caring for there three kids.

My favorite quote: “There’s something to be said for being the sort of person who adapts to and absorbs adversity, shows up as planned, and does the best that’s possible on the day.”

[Shannon Monroe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely admire this man, but wish he could have told his story via a different structure. The book is divided into 26 chapters (one for each of the marathons that he has run), each of which has a "key lesson" at the beginning. Although for him each marathon was a different experience, and took place in a different season of his life, for the reader this structure is repetitive and somewhat monotonous. The content is about 85% scene-by-scene descriptions of marathons (most of which take place in the same 3 cities) combined with athletes' statistics, and 15% reflection on the experience (it could also be expressed as one sentence of reflection for every two pages of running description). I wish it had been the inverse. Some of this may stem from his incredible humility and desire to "underpromise and overdeliver," or to let his actions speak for themselves. It was only in reading the "about the author" that I learned Meb had founded a charity to help children lead healthier lifestyles. I would have loved to read a chapter about this project! I think that a more thematic approach would have served him better in reaching his audience. All the same, his life and work are truly inspiring.

[Akshith Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meb's writing is so optimistic that it leaves you pumped up and ready to go when you put the book down. There are two parts of advice to this book, The runner's mindset and Lessons from the run that are applicable elsewhere. I found both these parts to be useful. Meb's meticulous planning and thinking before and after every race gives us a unique view into how an outlier mentally prepares for a big event. Although some lessons seem too broad, there are a few golden rules that I truly resonated with and have been a recurring theme from other books of similar nature. This is a must read for all runners out there. It would certainly define a good mental foundation to build your training plan. This book would also push you to think about how a lesson from each grueling race can be applied in other parts of your life.

[Marty Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read for any marathoner. I read the first several chapters the night before the San Diego Marathon 2019 and the advice really helped settle my brain and refocus it on the task at hand. As a result of that (and many other things) I had an amazing race, qualifying for the Boston Marathon by 5 minutes!
His humanity, humility and helpfulness are apparent in every chapter. He was a big hero of mine already due to his exploits and his first book 'Meb for Mortals'. This book just cemented his status further.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. Each chapter covered one marathon and the book was organized chronologically. Meb did excellent recounts of his 26 marathons and included details and events leading up to each marathon as well. He had some great words of wisdom to share and I liked reading more about his training philosophy and thought process. Meb seems to be a humble person who has worked hard for his marathon wins and never gave up when others did not give him a chance.

[Jeremy Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meb Strong. This book is a really good depiction of the trials and tactics of elite marathon runners. I was fascinated by the multi-layered goal approach that Meb employs to keep him striving, even when things don't go your way. The Chapter on Meb's Boston win completely changed how I look at that race. He is a true inspiration.

[Tammy Bangs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the lessons learned in this book! What a humble runner. I'm so glad he shared his struggles - a 10-minute mile in one of his marathons made me feel a super close connection to Meb :) 'cause I'll never run his pace! I'm going to re-read this book for when I need a pick-me-up.

[Deea Avram · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cartea e OK. Nu e vreo capodoperă, dar conține informații utile pentru pasionații de alergare. Însă traducerea în limba română este sub orice critică.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much inspiration

I made a lot of highlights in this book. So much wisdom to carry forward into my future, both in marathon and life!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this audiobook as I completed my first marathon! Timing was great - it also marked my 52nd book of 2021. This met my goal of a book per week, and what a book to do it on. Meb is an American legend - great to hear the play-by-play for each of his marathons, including winning New York, being an Olympic Medalist, and winning Boston a year after the bombing. He’s an excellent reminder of what immigrants can do, and really what anyone can do past the ages when things are typically done. Great audiobook narration, although I would’ve liked it if it was Meb himself. I did get a chance to see him speak briefly earlier this year in the lead up to the Boston Marathon, and he’s actually really funny and charming, more than you might expect from someone who clearly has a lot of intensity. This book gives an account of each of the 26 Marathons Meb ran during his career prior to retiring. Here’s a couple of highlights:

“This [‘Run to Win’] mind-set combines the lessons of Murphy’s Law and the serenity prayer, which is about accepting what you can’t change, working on what you can change, and having the wisdom to know the difference. The unexpected is always a possibility; that’s why it’s called unexpected. In any endeavor, focusing on the things you can control provides guidance on how to proceed and peace of mind that you’ve done what you can to succeed.”

“What does a personal best in running mean? It means you have proof of covering a given distance faster than you ever had in all your time as a runner. That’s huge. That’s huge in running terms, given how hard we all work and how often obstacles pop up. And that’s huge in life terms, and it’s part of why racing is so important to so many people. There, in black-and-white terms, is the record of you doing the best you’ve ever done at this task. It’s hard to get that sort of undeniable feedback in a lot of the rest of your life. Were you better at your job last week than ever before? Better as a spouse, friend, parent? How would you know? Running can give you that undeniable evidence. So celebrate it!”