In celebration of Meb Keflezighi’s 10 year anniversary of his 2014 Boston Marathon victory, we will be featuring a Celebration of Meb, highlighting and sharing an aspect of Meb’s life on and off the track and roads leading up to the 2024 Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15. We are thankful to both Meb and Hawi (Meb’s brother and agent) for their partnership on this feature.
While racing during his competitive running career, Meb took to the streets of Southern California for the Carlsbad 5000 on two separate occasions, each living up to their title of the world’s fastest 5k. Though he is well known for running the course, the impact he has on the race continues today, as he joined the ownership group for the iconic race in 2018.
“I am delighted to join the local ownership team in building upon the legacy of the Carlsbad 5000,” Keflezighi said in the official press release at the time. “There is no better place than the San Diego coast to celebrate the sport that has meant so much to me. I raced the Carlsbad 5000 twice during my professional career and both experiences were unforgettable. Having the opportunity to now help shape the direction of this amazing event for future generations is truly an honor.”
Meb is a staple at the Carlsbad 5000, and is often seen on the course giving out high fives to runners as they run along the scenic route. In addition to the 5k, the event is also home to the All Day 20k, which is a long standing tradition of runners racing in four 5k events throughout raceday.
Known as the “World’s Fastest 5k”, the annual road race attracts amateur, competitive, and professional
runners from around the world. Since the inaugural edition in 1986, the Carlsbad 5000 has seen 16 World
records and eight U.S. records, as well as numerous national and age group marks.
