At 43, Abdirahman has earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team for the fifth time, becoming the oldest American runner to make the Olympic team. Abdi has shown his strength by coming in third place at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon.
“If you’re not nervous at the starting lineup, that means you don’t care” - Abdi Abdirahman
Introduction to Abdi Abdirahman
Originally born in Somalia, Abdi and his family moved to the United States in 1990, becoming a US citizen in 2000. Abdi and his family moved to Arizona, where he graduated from the University of Arizona in 2001.
Abdi started running at 18 years old because he claims he wasn’t good at any team sports. He gave a shot at running, and now he is a 5-time Olympian in running events. Even when Abdi retires, he will still be running. “When I’m running in the trails, that’s when I’m at peace,” states Abdi, “that’s where I feel the most comfortable.”
Abdi’s Accomplishments
Abdi has represented Team USA in the 10,000 meters in 3 Olympics (2000, 2004, and 2008)
In 2012, he earned a spot on the Olympic marathon team, which he will be competing in for his 5th Olympics in 2021.
- Placed 3rd in 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials
- Four-time national 10,00-meter champion
- Two-time national 10,000-meter runner-up
- 2012 Road Runners Club of America Distance Running Hall of Fame inductee
Abdi’s Marathon Training
It takes a lot of work and dedication to run a marathon. Months and months of training go into preparing for each individual race. In preparation for the upcoming World Games, Abdi runs 110-120 miles per week during his training.
For those runners hoping to run for a long time, you can’t burn yourself out. Hydrating properly is an important aspect of marathons. Throughout your workout, every 30 minutes, you need to be getting some sort of energy and hydration. Drinking plain water may not be enough for you to have sustained energy throughout your high-intensity workout, so electrolytes and amino acids may be necessary. Whenever you finish your workout, you need to give your body some kind of energy source, especially when you’re running for 2+ hours like Abdi. “You have to listen to your body,” Abdi states, “You can’t train the same way you used to train when you were 21 years old.”
aminoVITAL Action helps Abdi stay hydrated and energized throughout his training. Abdi states, “aminoVITAL helps whether you’re running for 30 minutes, or like me, training for a marathon.” Action contains 220mg electrolytes for hydration, 2400mg of BCAAs to reduce muscle and mental fatigue, and 0g of sugar. Abdi’s go-to Action flavor is lemon.
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Sources
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Why Consuming BCAAs During Strenuous Activity or Exercise is Essential for Peak Performance
