The masters ranks just became more competitive, because today is Meb Keflezighi's 40th birthday. (Happy Cinco de Mebo!)

In his Boston Marathon title defense two weeks ago, Keflezighi finished eighth after running with the lead pack until suffering stomach problems in the final few miles. Since then, Keflezighi has taken his customary post-marathon break from training and has mostly been traveling to promote Meb for Mortals, the book that Rodale, Runner's World's parent company, published in April.

In an interview on May 2, Keflezighi discussed whether he'll aim for masters records, what feels different about running these days, and why it's difficult to take the days off from running he knows he should.

Runner’s World: What will you be doing on your birthday?

Meb Keflezighi: I’m doing a book signing in San Diego with [veteran endurance journalist] Bob Babbitt, because it’s also his birthday. Also, it’s [former U.S. mile record holder] Steve Scott’s birthday; I’m not sure if he’s going to join us. It’s a meeting of the Triathlon Club of San Diego at FunctionSmart Physical Therapy, where I’ve gotten good treatment over the years. Hopefully after that I can get one of my siblings to babysit the kids, and my wife and I can go out to dinner.

I was asked to be in Washington, D.C., on the 4th, and I said I just wanted to be around family and friends for my 40th.

I saw where you had your usual post-marathon weight gain—12 pounds since Boston! Obviously that will be gone the next time you race a marathon, but it does lead to the question: What would Meb’s midlife crisis look like if you were to have one?

MK: For me it would probably be weight or transition—what will I do when I’m no longer competing?

I’ve always been a little unsure what running will bring for me. Even when I graduated from UCLA, I had a part-time job in food service at the Olympic Training Center, just in case the running didn’t pay off. Résumé building is always important. I’m grateful for the accomplishments I’ve had, but that’s not guaranteed. You can work your butt off but still be like, “I’ve run 80,000 miles—now I’m ready to enter real society!”

So it’s not just midlife, but something I’ve always thought about—once I make that transition, what am I going to do? But my supporters have been loyal, and functions that I do, 300, 400 people show up. My goal has been to go into motivational speaking and share my story.

After Tuesday, it’s almost going to be a relief, like winning the New York City Marathon or, most importantly, the Boston Marathon. Everything else will be like frosting on the cake, because I don’t have to prove anything. I don’t have to do anything, but it’s a privilege and an honor to represent the sport of running the best that I can beyond just winning. I’m excited to take that role.

Do you anticipate changing your race schedule at all because of being a masters runner?

MK: No. But I think some other [masters] might change their schedules if they know I’m going to be there.

I want to remain competitive and see what I can do in the marathon. Hopefully I’ll make my fourth Olympic team [in February 2016], and go from there.

Any interest in specifically targeting masters records?

MK: I would like to go for the U.S. half marathon and marathon records, and I would love to have the opportunity for the [masters] marathon world record. [The U.S. masters half marathon and marathon records are 1:03:23 and 2:13:52; both are held by Mbarak Hussein. Kenneth Mungara of Kenya set the world masters marathon record of 2:08:44 on April 12; Keflezighi's personal best is 2:08:37, which he ran in his Boston victory.]

I never went for a world record in anything. That [record of] 2:08:44, that’s crossed my mind. I wouldn’t say it’s impossible to do it in New York, but it’s not probable. I’ve run New York nine times, and my fastest time there was 2:09:13, in 2011.

Can it be done? If someone helps me run at that pace through 20 miles, then I might be able to reel in the last 10K by myself. But if you’re going for the title, and exchanging blows, that’s different. If it’s an equally paced race like I did at Boston [in 2014], I think it can be done.

It would be easier to target a time at Chicago or Berlin than New York. And they’d give me more recovery time before the Olympic Trials. But I have a strong relationship with New York. I have to make a decision.

What are the biggest changes in your training compared to how you did things ten years ago?

MK: First big thing is changing to a 9-day training cycle instead of 7-day cycles. I started that in 2013 to allow for more recovery. So now in a typical 9-day cycle I have a long run, an interval workout, and a tempo run, with two recovery days between, rather than trying to do all that in one week.

The other big thing—and it’s very difficult for me to do—is to take a day off once a month. I should do that more often, or maybe just jump on my ElliptiGO for two hours, rather than do another 10-mile run. Especially on the day after my long run I should be doing that, instead of trying to get in extra mileage, because, for me, by now the mileage is there. [Related: Watch Meb demonstrate 5 drills that will make you a better runner.]

You did a 28-miler in your build-up to Boston this year. What did you do the next day?

MK: I went for my 10-mile run. [Laughs] Maybe I should have done 4 miles in the morning and 6 in the afternoon, or wait until the afternoon, for more recovery time. But I like routine, so I went in the morning. I can be set in my ways, which can set you up for a downfall. But I hope this year to be better about maybe taking those days off.

What about a more subjective change? What’s the biggest thing that feels different about being a 40-year-old world-class runner than when you were a 28-year-old world-class distance runner?

MK: The muscles are different. They’re not as toned. Also, sometimes I wake up and my calf or my glute…Like the other day, I did 4 miles to start to reintroduce my body to running. During the run everything was fine, but that afternoon I went to get up and I was like, “Wait a minute, I can’t step the normal way. Something is definitely funky.” So I made a mental note I need to strengthen my gluteus maximus and piriformis on the left side.

With you turning 40, there’s now you, Bernard Lagat, and Deena Kastor, who are pioneers as masters runners—you just stayed world-class the whole time, and are competitive against open runners. Why do you think that didn’t happen with more runners of the previous generation?

MK: I can’t really say about Bernard; I haven’t heard him talk about injuries he may have had. For Deena and me, who have had some injury setbacks, once you overcome them and have that opportunity to run again, it just makes you appreciate it and want to do positive things for the sport. We understand down deep that you push, push, push to win, but if you don’t win, it’s still great.

We strive to get the best out of ourselves despite our age. People tell us we’re an inspiration, people who are professionals with busy lives running half marathons or marathons and doing their running before work or at lunchtime or after work. If they can do that, to have the opportunity to do what I do is an honor and a privilege, and I want to be sure I maximize the talent I have. We all want to get to that finish line as best as we can.

Last question: Ed Whitlock holds the 70-and-over marathon record of 2:54. Is that the sort of thing you see yourself targeting in 2045?

MK: [Laughs] Much respect to Ed Whitlock, but at this point, no.

What I’ve done in the marathon is put on my flats and try to be as competitive as I can. The aftermath is brutal—I can’t walk normally for days. But I do love training. I’ll always do that.

Scott Douglas Scott is a veteran running, fitness, and health journalist who has held senior editorial positions at Runner’s World and Running Times.

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