Meb Keflezighi is a champion, and a cheerleader. He started tossing me pep talks, like that one, even during the sound check for a recent interview.

Keflezighi, 35, won the 2009 ING New York City Marathon with a time of 2:09:15 and was the first American to claim the title in 27 years. He’s also got an Olympic silver medal under his belt from the 2004 Games.

Keflezighi returns to the 2010 marathon (his fourth NYC run) as defending champion, and among his competitors this year will be Ethiopian distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie in his New York marathon debut.

You’d think he’d be feeling the pressure hold his title. Instead he’s gearing up for the race by sharing his expertise with marathon newbies like Jared Fogle the “Subway guy.”

“For me it’s a little bit more relaxed because I was second and third the previous years. Now that I have [the win] under my belt, there’s less personal pressure. In terms of everybody’s eye, can I do it again? I hope I can. There will always be pressure, but it’s going to be a little less because the monkey is off my shoulder because I’ve done it,” he said.