The Physical Performance Show: Abdi Abdirahman, 5X US Olympian
In episode 221 of The Physical Performance Show Brad Beer shares a conversation with Abdi Abdirahman, 5X US Olympian in this Featured Performer Edition.
Abdi Abdirahman’s running bio is quite remarkable. After moving to the USA at age twelve from Somalia, Abdi went on to discover his running talent after impressing a US Coach following what was Abdi’s longest run in a pair of jeans. Following a Nike sponsorship Abdi’s career soared. It spanned 4 Olympic Games and in February 2020 Abdi at 43 years of age, he became the US’s oldest mature Olympian where he snagged 3rd place just behind episode 209 featured performer Jake Riley at the US Marathon Olympic Trials. Abdi boasts some impressive PB’s 2:08:56 in the marathon, 60:29 in the Half Marathon just behind Haile Gebrselassie as you’ll hear Abdi reference today, 28:11 for 10km and 13:13 for 5000m. Abdi took out 3rd place in the 2019 New York City Marathon
You will enjoy learnings today from Abdi around the power of staying relaxed, not letting your age define your performance or your perspective. Longevity tips, earning respect, training with the great Mo Farah, tapering tips and keeping things simple.
Abdi also survives the Physical Performance Round and issues a Physical Challenge of the Week.
To listen to Episode 221:
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Listen in as we delve into the following:
- How Abdi is managing the reality of Covid
- Importance of Longevity
- Abdi in walking very slow
- Mastering relaxation
- How Mo Farah influenced him in his running career
- How Abdi started in his running career
- Abdi’s career highlights
- Self belief in athletes
- Family History
- What has been achieved in the running world
- Darkest Days in his career
- Top 3 Tips for Longevity for Runners
- Days where he has to listen to his body
- Top 3 Tapering Tips
- Data versus listening to your body
- Mileage consideration
- His strength and conditioning routine
- How he drives by passion
Show Sponsor: run2PB
run2PB offers online run coaching, it was established in 2018, and has quickly become the leading choice for runners who want to improve their running with a personalised and structured training program under the guidance of a expert coach.
Quotes
“Beast”– Being in the Zone
“Unpredictable” – Racing Style
“Rest and Sleep” – Recovery Tip
“Think about the long term and not the short term.” – Best Advice
“Challenge yourself for 7 days.” – Physical Challenge
“No one else can control before you.”
“Group athletes make an athlete better.”
“Respect is earned and not given.”
“Failure is not an option.”
“Don’t be afraid to tell your coach what is happening to your body.”
“The hardest part is training, the easy part is the race.”
Top 3 Tips for Longevity for Runners
1. Listen to your body
2. Recovery as part of your training
3. Don’t look for Quick fix but long term
Top 3 Tapering Tips
1. There is nothing you can do to hurt you but what you do can.
2. Eat every time when you’re doing a long run, don;t change your diet
3. No new shoes
Timeline
0:00 Start
3:04 Introduction to Abdi Abdirahman
6:20 How he is managing the reality of Covid
10:15 Importance of Longevity
12:07 Abdi in walking very slow
13:07 Mastering relaxation
15:55 How Mo Farah influenced him in his running career
20:25 How Abdi started in his running career
24:05 Abdi’s career highlights
27:55 Self belief in athletes
29:15 Family History
31:00 What has been achieved in the running world
31:53 Darkest Days in his career
34:05 Top 3 Tips for Longevity for Runners
35:45 Days where he has to listen to his body
40:44 Top 3 Tapering Tips
43:48 Data versus listening to your body
44:27 Mileage consideration
47:10 Performance Round
54:15 Best Advice
55:46 Physical Challenge for the week
57:40 His strength and conditioning routine
58:31 How he drives by passion
1:00:07 Finish
People Mentioned
Haile Gebrselassie – Ethiopian athlete
Zane Robertson – NZ Marathon Record Holder 2:08:19, 59:47 half marathon, Comm Games Bronze (5000m, 2014), Olympian Episode 170 of The Physical Performance Show
Jake Riley – USA Olympic Marathon Rep Episode 209 of The Physical Performance Show
Galen Rupp – American long-distance runner
Meb Keflezighi – 4x US Olympian, New York & Boston Marathon Champion, Silver Marathon Medalist (2004) Episode 165 of The Physical Performance Show
Bernard “Kip” Lagat – 5X Olympian, dual Olympic medallist & American record holder
Mo Farah – British distance runner
Kenenisa Bekele – Ethiopian long-distance runner
Dathan James Ritzenhein – retired American long-distance runner
For questions and comments about this Episode
Send to the show host @Brad_Beer (Twitter) or @brad_beer (Instagram)
