Speaking from his home in San Diego, Meb Keflezighi (pronounced kef-lez-ghee) has a smile in his voice. Among the most accomplished American distance runners ever, the four-time Olympian figures he's run some 120,000 miles since high school.

After 27 years of running, his accolades are numerous. Four NCAA championships at UCLA. Silver in the 2004 Olympic Marathon. First in the New York City Marathon in 2009, first at Boston in 2014, completing 26 marathons in all.