http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2014/07/20/meb-keflezighi-boston-marathon-winner-deaths-survivors-rock-n-roll/12919337/
Meb Keflezighi becomes VP of running for Competitor Group Inc.
Kelly Whiteside, USA TODAY Sports
Jul. 21, 2014 6:17 AM
Meb Keflezighi's family left the African nation of Eritrea to escape
poverty and a violent war with Ethiopia and settled in San Diego when he
was 12, and Meb knew no English.
His father would wake the children up at 4:30 a.m., before school, and they
learned English by studying the dictionary. Growing up in the USA was a
unique opportunity his parents and cousins didn't have, his father, Russom,
said. "So don't waste it. Work hard and make us proud."
Russom had several jobs, one as a janitor cleaning banks. He would sweep
and mop the bathroom floors and wipe the windows and the desks. "You have a
choice," he told his son. "You can get your education and have an office
and work from 8to 5, like most people do in these offices, or you can do
what I'm doing."
Keflezighi did get his education -- he graduated from UCLA -- and has become
one of the top U.S. distance runners in history. He is an Olympic medalist
and winner of the New York and Boston marathons, so there was never a need
for an office. Until now.
On Monday, Keflezighi will add a new title to his résumé: vice president of
running for San Diego-based company Competitor Group Inc., which owns and
operates the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series.
"My dream has been realized," the 2014 Boston Marathon winner told USA
TODAY Sports. "Boston was the capping. Now I want to inspire others to get
the best out of themselves, inspire others just getting started. I feel
honored to have the role of VP of running. It's a huge honor. I am so
excited to have an office more so than anything."
In his position, Keflezighi will play a key role working with event
managers for Rock 'n' Roll races, developing training content and appearing
and competing at events. He still will compete professionally. He said he
will run a few more marathons with the goal of making his fourth Olympic
team. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, he will be 41.
On April 21, Keflezighi became the first U.S. man since 1983 to win the
Boston Marathon. It was one of the most memorable victories in the Boston
Marathon's 118-year history because it came when the city needed it the
most.
A year after the terrorist bombings -- running in front of those gravely
wounded in the attacks and wearing the names of the four victims on the
corners of his racing bib -- Keflezighi raised his arms in victory as he
crossed the finish line at 2:08:37. He looked up to the sky, then kissed
the ground three times. He took a bow and emotion won out as he put his
hands over his face and broke into tears.
"I went out so hard because whether I won or not, I planned to give my
best. I gave everything I had; that's why I couldn't walk for two weeks
after," he said with a laugh. "I felt that there was a greater cause, and
my dream was to win the Boston Marathon. I'm so proud to win, with the
victims' names on my bib. It was an amazing, amazing experience."
Keflezighi lives with his wife and three daughters in San Diego, so the
commute to the office will be a breeze. His parents still live in the city
as well. Sometime in the next two weeks, he will escort his father on a
visit to Competitor Group, Inc.'s headquarters. He will give him a tour,
then show him his office.
"He knows about the job, but hasn't seen the office. I want to experience
that moment with him," he said.
Received on Mon Jul 21 2014 - 12:45:17 EDT