Date of birth: Sept. 26, 1981, in Los Angeles, California.

First running memory: “Were races in the neighborhood, boys down the street. And as far as anything with a real start and finish line, I’d have to say junior high school, running the mile for PE class.”

Running inspirations: “My parents and my high school coach, Dave Delong. I think mostly family and friends and people close to me, my neighborhood girls I grew up with, influenced pretty much who I am now.”

Favorite movies: “Juno.”

Last book read: “Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir. Before that, The Audacity Of Hope, by Barack Obama.”

Musical tastes: “I like classic rock, folk, bluegrass, Joni Mitchell, Jethro Tull, Beatles, Laurie Lewis from bluegrass.”

Favorite TV shows: “Would have to be Lost.”

First car: “1989 Toyota Station wagon. The shaggin’ wagon [smiles].”

First job: “In-N-Out Burger.”

Current car: “Subaru Outback (green). The Impreza Sport.”

Favorite meal: “Is sushi.”

Favorite ice cream flavor: “Mocha almond fudge.”

Prerace feeling: “Before the race, I just try not to get nervous at all. I think about being relaxed, in control, kind of have a mantra that I say to myself: I belong among the best, I’m confident, I’m committed, I’m a winner. And I’m relaxed. And whenever I start getting nervous, I just make myself repeat that over and over again.”

Greatest sports moment: “Winning the 5,000 at the U.S. Track and Field Championships (2010) after a year off.”

Most painful moment: “Was probably dropping out of a couple of races in summer of 2006. And feeling like I didn’t know how I’d ever pull it all back together.”

Embarrassing career memory: “In high school my senior year, I went to run a mile. I was in the starting line. And I went and ran over and everybody was waiting for me. And I went to whip off my sweats as fast as possible—but I pulled off everything—in a stadium full of people [laughs]. It was mortifying. (How did you recover and do in the race?) I won. I broke five minutes for the first time [laughs].”

Favorite athletes to watch: “Kim Smith (of New Zealand) is my favorite track and field athlete. I feel like she has a lot in common with the things I believe in. She’s got a balanced life. I know she competes clean. She believes in gradual improvement. And she never takes any of her successes for granted. And always knows things can turn on a whim. I feel like she just lives in the moment and always gives her best. She’s gutsy as hell, and I just absolutely love to watch her compete. I actually don’t enjoy watching track and field or running very much, because it’s so close to me; I can’t watch races. But there’s a few that I’ll watch, and she’s one of them.”

Last vacation: “Was to Bend to visit my mother-in-law. We floated the Chutes River on $3 inner tubes.”

Funny running memory: “There’s been a few, like just complete glee and girlhood giddiness. Running around Drake Relays with my Stanford team. We won the Drake mile relay, I believe. And we’re running around with our shorts on top of our head. We’re wearing our uniforms, but we’re running all around town in Drake with our shorts on our heads, laughing like 10-year-olds [smiles].”

Childhood dream: “When I was a youngster, I thought I’d be president of the United States [smiles].”
On entering the 2011 New York City Marathon: “I know I need to get a lot stronger, so it became obvious that I need to throw some new wood on the fire. I’ve seen the marathon work its magic on many women I admire. And I’m convinced nothing will change my physiology, stretch my mind, and freshen my perspective more than running the ING New York City Marathon.”

Qualities most admired: “I have the greatest respect for people who are doing the most with what they have, making the most with what they’re given—whatever that is. You can just tell when somebody’s doing that. And when somebody’s letting gifts go to waste.”

Favorite places to compete: “Hayward Field; Stanford University. And I like running at Crystal Palace in London.”

Husband: Jesse.

Residence: Eugene, Oregon.

Running inspirations: “My brothers when I was a young girl. And later it was the European track runners, European middle-distance runners. And later, when I moved on to the roads… I really didn’t have any idols because I was, more or less, the first one. I ran my first marathon here in New York 30 years ago and set the world best. If I look back, the most important thing was my brothers who inspired me to take up running. Then I reached the national level and international level. They were my best training partners, with my husband. So I had three men in my life who were all important to me.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Before I was a professional runner I was a school teacher. So, running 110 miles a week, having a full time job as a school teacher – I didn’t really have time for a hobby. But in the last 5-10 years I’ve been involved in getting people to be aware of the importance of being active. Because inactivity is our biggest health threat. I’m motivating young people, adults, to be more active in their daily life.”

Favorite Movies: “Thrillers, mysteries, court dramas. I saw it yesterday – Pride and Glory with Colin Farrell and Ed Norton.”

Musical Tastes: “The best music is quiet. Peace and quiet. I’m not into music. I never have the radio on. I like it quiet.”

Last Book Read: “The last one by John Sandford, I just started it. Last one finished was The Given Day by Dennis Lehane.”

Favorite TV Shows: “24, The Wire, and The Shield. I like action [laughs].”

Favorite Meal: “Baked potato, grilled swordfish and vegetables.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Strawberry.”

First Marathon Memory: “My first New York City Marathon in 1978 here in New York. It was terrible even though I won it and set the world best. I crossed the finish line and said, Never again. Because I was a track runner, a world class middle-distance runner. I was talked into running the marathon by my husband. I didn’t come into the race being prepared as a marathoner because I didn’t have the long runs. I had to pay for that. I couldn’t walk for the next three days.”

First Car: “Oh, a Mazda.”

Current Car: “A Saab.”

Pre-Race Feeling: “Think about the race, running it in my head several times, being nervous.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Oh, on the track, winning the World Cup in 3000 meters in 1977. In the marathon, winning the world championship in Helsinki. In cross-country, winning the world championship in 1983 in Gateshead, England. I won it several times, five times, but that was the victory that meant the most to me.”

Most Painful Moment: “My first New York City Marathon [smiles].”

Funny Career Memory: “Not really. Being a World Cup marathoner on that level is not a lot of fun [smiles]. Well, I have been to track races where I didn’t bring my spikes and had to run in other people’s spikes. That’s the only thing I can think of, off the top of my head.”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “I watch all major marathons. I like Paula Radcliffe. Paula has a passion for the sport, she is a tough woman. She has been through ups and downs, but she is still the same Paula that I met many, many years ago, before she became a world class athlete. When she was still running track in England.”

Favorite Sports Outside Running: “Cross country skiiing. I watch the Tour de France. Endurance sports is something I enjoy watching.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “What I like to see is generosity. If you have the chance to give back to your community, if you are in a position that you can give something back, I like to see people do that. Being generous.”

Career Accomplishments: Winner of nine New York City Marathons (1979-1980, 1982-1986, 1988) and two London Marathons (1983, 1986); 1972 and 1976 Olympian (1500 meters); 1984 Olympic silver medalist in marathon; 1988 Olympian (marathon); 1983 world champion in marathon in Helinski (lowered the marathon world best by an astounding nine minutes); In 2008 King Harald V bestowed upon her the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, First Class, in recognition of being an important role model.

(Note: This Biofile interview was conducted in New York City in November of 2008 and was published in the May/June 2009 issue of “Marathon & Beyond.”)

DOB: May 9, 1973, in Kenya

First running memory: “Oh, it was a long time ago [smiles]. My first memory is when I run the first race in Japan, 1992. Cross-country.”

Running inspirations: “There are many things that inspire. One thing is that you love to run. Also, to run with the best is a satisfying feeling. And to win the race. My running heroes were Kip Keino from Kenya and Ingrid Kristiansen from Norway.”

Favorite movies: “Well, I don’t have time to go to movies, to the cinema [smiles]. I like old movies. I like the one with Eddie Murphy Coming To America.”

Last book read: “I don’t remember.”

Musical tastes: “I like Madonna.”

Favorite TV shows: “Not really.”

First Car: “Mercedes – from New York, 1994 [laughs]. I won in New York.”

First job: “Auditor (age 18).”

Current car: “I drive Mercedes.”

Favorite meal: “We have ugali – that’s a Kenyan meal. And pasta.”

Favorite ice cream flavor: “No.”

Prerace feeling: “It’s normally a little bit nervous.”

Greatest sports moment: “When I broke the world record – to be the fastest woman. And when winning New York – first one, 1994.”

Most painful moment: “Was not easy. Was Olympics 2000, Sydney. I caught food poisoning and I was really feeling bad for the marathon. Then it just went like that (finished 13th). And after four years you prepare – it’s painful.”

Embarrassing career memory: “[Laughs]…when you don’t do well. Especially at the Olympics, where you prepare for four years. You don’t get what you hope for. And when I lost the race in New York in 1998 or 97. I made a mistake by running too fast.”

Favorite athletes to watch: “I like to watch Haile – he’s a great person. And Bob Kennedy.”

Favorite vacation: “I would like to go to New Zealand.”

Favorite sport outside running: “I love rugby and soccer.”

Childhood dream: “I wanted to be a traveler, all over the world. I escaped by running. And I wanted to be an ambassador. And I didn’t know what kind of ambassador I wanted. But I know now that I am an ambassador for peace.”

Qualities most admired: “Well, I would like to see people having good spirits to one another. Kind-hearted people.”

Favorite marathon: “In New York.”

Residence: Kenya and Dortmund, Germany.

Career Accomplishments: 1994 and 1995 New York City Marathon winner; 2000 London Marathon winner; finished second at 1996 Boston Marathon; Set world marathon record twice – in Rotterdam in 1998 (2:20:47) and Berlin in 1999 (2:20:43); 2000 Olympian.

When asked to name his favorite runners that he likes to watch, the 29-year-old Fujiwara, the winner of the Ottawa Marathon this year, answered that it was Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist and Olympic record-holder for the marathon.

When asked why it’s Wanjiru, Fujiwara said, “Because he’s a boxer. He runs like a boxer. I feel the way he runs and approaches the race, is like a prizefighter. And that really tempts me to watch him.”

I found that very interesting because to my uneducated running eye, it’s difficult to see the fighter spirit emanating from a man running as fast as he can.

When asked how he sees Wanjiru expressing the boxer’s intensity and aggressiveness, Fujiwara replied, “Like when he attacks. When he races, he’s in control. He makes a move – he’s the one making the move. Everybody else is responding to that. It’s like he’s going for the knockout punch. I really appreciate that. As an athlete, I really appreciate watching that. I understand what that means.”

Fujiwara says he’s a boxing fan but in Japan K1 is more popular. “I’m a fan of K1, it’s very popular in Japan. On December 31 there’s a big K1 tournament in Japan. That’s the night before a big running competition called Ekiden which is like the focus of the entire year for Japanese long distance runners. I would always watch the night before the big race to get pumped up for it. For the big championships.”

After we finished our conversation in the media center cafeteria, I suggested to the interpreter Brett Larner that before Sunday’s New York City Marathon, Fujiwara should go on YouTube and watch some videos of the best boxer in the sport today, Manny Pacquiao, for inspiration.

Fujiwara said if the hotel internet connection starts working, he will do it.

If Arata Fujiwara can get to see some Pacquiao highlights against Cotto, Hatton and De La Hoya, as well as some of his amazing shadowboxing and smiling ring entrances, it’s possible that Fujiwara could get pumped up enough to shock the Marathon world on Sunday morning in New York.

DOB: May 5, 1975 In: Asmara, Eritrea

Running Inspirations: “God-given talent. You gotta tap it in. And I believe I have more PR’s. And I still want to see that full potential.”

First Running Memory: “There’s two actually. When I first ran a mile, my brother had run at the school. He said, Hey will you run a mile? You get a T-shirt if you run 6:15. And I ran 5:20 – almost a minute faster. That was very memorable. And the other memory was I got lost in a race – Woodbridge H.S. Cross-Country meet and I was so much in the lead. By about 400 meters or more. And I was the last guy. You’re supposed to go over the bridge a second time – they direct me to go under the bridge. I ran about 800 meters extra and that lap I finished tenth. From winning to finish tenth. But I’m not a quitter. I went back and finished the race and finished tenth.”

Leisure Activities/Hobbies: “Be a good father and husband. Playing soccer, reading. On the phone. Many people call me ‘on the phone maniac.’ Like to be on the phone.”

Nickname: “Meb, Tom, Luciano – Italian version of what Meb means.”

Favorite Movies: “Coming To America, Rush Hour I and II, comedies. I still can‘t get enough of Coming To America. Lots of similarities.”

Musical Tastes: “Hip-hope, R&B and definitely my traditional Tigrinya songs – Tigrinya which is my natural language. And I listen to a lot of that. You go through stages of life with music. I also like Janet Jackson.”

Last Book Read: “The Prayer of Chavez.”

Favorite TV Show: “I love George Lopez, The Cosby Show, Three‘s Company. I just watch a lot of cartoons, soccer and stuff.”

Favorite Meal: “I like lasagna.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Gelato, vanilla.”

Favorite Sport To Watch Outside Of Running: “Soccer.”

First Job: “McDonalds cashier. And sometimes fries. That was in San Diego (age 15).”

First Car: “1973 Ford LTD, brown. I still have it [smiles].”

Pre-race Feeling: “Fun, fun, fun. Let the game begin. It’s all about the preparation. I do a lot of visualization before and during, while I practice. I try to be relaxed. Smile.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “New York Marathon (2009). And Athens (silver medal in 2004).”

Most Painful Moment: “I would say Olympic Trials. I love New York. I run New York. At about mile 20 I realized, No, I’m not gonna make the team. I know I give it all, my all, 100% and they were saying, Meb, you’re our hero, we love you. And when you hear the crowd telling you that – anybody can go emotional. I went to tears. Because, you know, it’s not clicking that day. The reason it’s my most disappointing day – here I am trying to make the team and I lost a dear friend (Ryan Shay) at the finish line. Somebody told me, Do you know what happened to Ryan? And I was thinking, Did he fall? No. I just went to the ground.”

Favorite Marathons: “I love New York.”

Embarrassing Career Memory: “I say I’m gonna give a talk at the New York Athletic Club tomorrow night (in 2002). I say this is my first and last Marathon. I ran out of energy and hit the wall and was cold. I finish ninth. So frozen, I couldn’t untie my shoes. I say I will never run a marathon again. I’m done. I’m going back to the 10K and shorter distances. Embarrassing moment is to come back on that – win New York and get a silver medal [laughs].”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “In terms of running – Haile Gebreselassie. I wanted to be the Haile of the USA. And of the world. Dominant. And Paul Tergat. Kobe Bryant, I like his style. Deena Kastor. Just because of the great person she is. I know her very personal. Very humble person. If you go back in the day – Andre Agassi. Jackie Robinson. Muhammad Ali.”

Funny Memory: “My accent sometimes. I went to school with Jaleel White – Steve Urkel. We were classmates. Before he became my classmate, I remember first time I met him. I said I wanted his autograph. I said it wasn’t for me, it was for my sister who admired him. I said can you make it to my sister actually? He wrote Ashley instead of ‘actually.’ I was telling him to make it for my sister. He said, Ashley? So I said, Ashley is my neice. So I tell him, Can you make it to my sister? And he wrote it. Then it’s right. When I said…Actually make it to my sister, he said Ashley. So that was funny.”

Childhood Dream: “Pilot.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Consistency. Be who you are no matter what. Smile on your face all the time. And that’s what I try to do. I don’t like people fluctuating. Friends are always friends and just a friend when you talk to them. Always respectful. Treat people the way you want to be treated.”

Family: Wife, Yordanos; three daughters.

Residence: Mammoth Lakes, CA

Career Accomplishments: 2004 Olympic silver medalist; Winner of 2009 New York City Marathon in a personal best 2:09:15; Winner of 2009 USA Half-Marathon Championships, USA Cross-Country Championships and USA 7-Mile Championships.

Status:  Contender in the New York City Marathon this Sunday November 1.

DOB: October 27, 1978  In: Japan

Running Inspiration: “I feel the accomplishment after finishing the race. So it’s a feeling of accomplishment.”

First Running Memory: “When I discovered I could be the first place winner. When I ran many races as a young girl, I recognized that I can beat other people.”

Sports Heroes:  “Reiko Tosa (2007 bronze medalist at World Championships in marathon), Paula Radcliffe.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities:  “Shopping, aroma therapy, swim sometimes.”

Last Book Read:  “I don’t read much.”

Favorite Movies:  “I don’t watch a lot of movies.”

Musical Tastes:  “I don’t know any foreign artists, but is it okay to name Japanese artists? (Sure.) Superfly.”

Favorite TV Show:  “I like to watch the news in the morning [smiles].”

First Job:  “I worked a little bit in an office, but not much.”

First Car:  “I don’t have a car.”

Pre-Race Feeling:  “Forget the rest of the world and just concentrate on myself.”

Favorite Meal: “I like everything [laughs].”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:  “Green tea.”

Greatest Sports Moment:  “The greatest moment is the first marathon that I ran – I felt that I can be a runner. That was the greatest moment. (Where and when?) In Osaka in 2007.”

Most Painful Moment:  “That was the Osaka race in 2008. I participated with injury (sole of foot). I needed to stop the race.”

Favorite Marathon(s):  “Probably New York, London and Berlin.”

Funny Career Memory:  “During the 10k race in 2005 in New York I did fifth place. The person who gave me the medal for place – he was actually an NBA basketball player. So he was extremely tall. So everyone was laughing. That was funny.”

Embarrassing Career Memory:  “After I became famous, the results are more important. And when I can’t have  a good result in a preparation race, I feel a little bit embarrassed. Many people are expecting me to win the race. Sometimes I can’t because it’s a preparation race which is not as important as the Olympics or New York Marathon. So those are the times I feel a little bit embarrassed.”

Last Vacation:  “I went to Awaji Island – in west of Japan. For two days.”

Childhood Dream:  “I wanted to be a pastry maker [smiles].”

Favorite Athletes To Watch:  “I don’t have particular people that I like to watch. But a sport I like to watch is swimming.”

Personality Qualities Most Admired:  “I don’t like the extreme people [smiles]. I like people who are balanced.”

Translation by Yukari Watanabe

Career Accomplishments:  Personal marathon record is 2:24.27; Placed in top three in four of six of her marathons; 7th in Berlin World Championships in 2009; Winner of Hokkaido Marathon 2007.