Myles Schrag - Abdis World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun

Praise for Abdis World

A lighthearted and engaging memoir by a celebrated runner and Olympic athlete.

Kirkus Reviews

Abdi is a unique and competitive athlete. I had the chance to train with and compete against Abdi throughout almost three decades. Our discussions and interactions have always been fun-loving and ambitious. Abdi has a go-big approach to life and running, and now readers will get to experience his positive mindset firsthand. What an amazingly long and successful career Abdi has had!

Meb Keflezighi
2004 Olympic Marathon silver medalist,
2009 New York City Marathon winner,
2014 Boston Marathon winner

Abdi is one of the most inspiring and decorated distance runners in the United States today, but also the most fun to be with at the races. He is a natural storyteller and a gritty performer, so put this book on your summer reading list for both motivation and entertainment.

Deena Kastor
2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist,
American record holder in the marathon,
New York Times bestselling author of Let Your Mind Run

Ive always looked up to Abdi as a runner, as most do, but knowing Abdi, I more admire and want to emulate his carefree, happy-go-lucky, joy-filled nature. What is the point of becoming a world-beater athlete if you cant enjoy today? Abdi knows how to run with the best athletes in the world, but more importantly, he knows how to live a life full of joy, optimism, and love. I know that the words Abdi shares in Abdis World will pass along his wisdom, fire, and joy to all that read them.

Ryan Hall
Two-time Olympian;
American record holder in the half marathon

Abdis mentality is his foundation of youth. His huge smile and joy for life are his trademarks. His ability to read the race as its developing and never back down are part of his competitive legacy. Its hard to imagine any one of those without the others. What a treat to read his secrets to success.

Mary Wittenberg,
former president and CEO, New York Road Runners

People often overlook just how difficult it is to achieve longevity in elite sports. Abdi has been entertaining at the very highest level for over 20 years. His energy lights up a room and those lucky enough to have met him leave with a little bit of his magic. You cannot fail to be inspired by Abdis story, an authentic tale by someone who clearly cherishes running and life.

Gary Lough,
distance coach, former professional middle-distance runner

Abdis desire and will have not changed. In really good athletes, they dance on that line of, How long can I do this? A lot lose the joy in it and its not what it once was, and they have to work through that along with the physical relationship and how it sits in their lives. They exit without the joy. Hes somebody who is always asking What am I getting ready for? He always has a plan. He always, always, has been like that. With Abdi, as you will read in his life story, he still has the joy.

Mike Smith,
director of track and field and cross country, Northern Arizona
University, national cross country champions, 2017, 2018, 2020

Abdis always had that bold spirit and an ability to live up to his boldness. His character is alive and people in our baseball circle love it. His sport is a completely different world and we dont know a lot about that world, but weve always thought of him as an unbelievable competitor with great energy thats contagious. I wish more people had his attitude; his book will inspire readers to adopt it.

Shelley Duncan,
University of Arizona baseball All-American,
six-year Major League Baseball veteran

Abdis World: The Black Cactus on Life, Running, and Fun

2021 by Abdi Abdirahman

All rights reserved. Published 2021. Except for use in a review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, and in any information storage and retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-7331887-8-4 (paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-7331887-9-1 (e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021907837

Cover designed by Lindy Martin

Interior designed by Katherine Lloyd

Copyediting by Julie Hammonds

Proofreading by Claudine Taillac

Editorial support by Nancy Schrag

Some Days Are Better Than Others : Words and Music by Paul David Hewson, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, and Adam Clayton. Copyright 1993 UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING INT. B.V. All Rights Administered by UNIVERSAL POLYGRAM INT. PUBLISHING, INC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC

New York : Music by U2; Lyrics by Bono. Copyright 2000 UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING INTERNATIONAL B.V. All Rights in the United States and Canada Controlled and Administered by UNIVERSAL POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING, INC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission. Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC

Printing by Sheridan Books, Chelsea, Michigan, USA

Cover photo Kevin Morris. Abdi Abdirahman, on February 29, 2020, after qualifying for his fifth Olympic team at the US Olympic Team Marathon Trials in Atlanta, Georgia.

Soulstice Publishing

PO Box 791

Flagstaff, AZ 86002

(928) 814-8943

www.soulsticepublishing.com

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P eople know Abdi Abdirahman for being eccentric and funny. Sure, that is true: to say Abdi marches to the beat of his own drum is an understatement.

Hes also incredibly stubborn. It took me several years to convince him to join me and other Somali-born runners for altitude-training camps in Ethiopia. Even when he did decide to participate, he couldnt give a reason for not having come years before. It was as though one day he just decided the time was right, and so he booked his flight.

Once he finally arrived in Addis Ababa, it quickly became clear we had found the missing piece to our puzzle. He gave the training group a shift in energyAbdi knows when to push and when to rest. He knows when its time to work and when its time to play. I dont think most distance runners do. Actually, Im not sure most people do. Many of us try to control everything, and I think one of his best traits is knowing when to let things slide and when action is needed. He accepts good news and bad news equally and moves forward from there.

Theres lots I could make fun of Abdi forand I do. For being the old man of the running world, for speaking Somali poorly, for forgetting his keys or a meeting time, for being resistant about returning to Africa. Instead, Ill tell you what you discover when you get to know him.

Hes a fantastic training partner. For somebody who seems so laid back and uninterested in the details of training, his tenacity is unmatched when its time to get down to work. If it wasnt, I assure you that he wouldnt have been able to make five Olympic teams.

His longevity is amazing. The guy can flat-out run. By the time I won gold medals in the 5000m and 10,000m at the 2010 European Track and Field Championships, Abdi Abdirahman had already been in three Olympics. I first met Abdi when I was 16 years old, running the junior race at the 2000 World Cross Country Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal. He was a role model for me then, and he still is.