Mo ready to conquer UK record at London race
Focused Farah to show fruits of his Ethiopia training
MO FARAH believes he is capable of competing with the world’s finest marathon runners as he comes into this weekend’s London Marathon feeling as relaxed as ever.
Farah, who on Tuesday flew into the capital from his training camp in Ethiopia, said he believes he has the potential to be the fastest marathon runner in European history as he revealed his plans to “mix in” with the sport’s best runners.
The 35-year-old will face competition from the likes of Eliud Kipchoge, the Olympic marathon champion, and Daniel Wanjiru, the winner of last year’s London Marathon, but said he will try to match the main contenders even if they run at a world-record pace.
“This is the biggest race,” said Farah. “There is only one way to run and that is mixing in with the guys and seeing what we can do. If that [world-record pace] is what the guys are doing, why not?”
Farah said he had been invigorated by the changes to his schedule, and by the reduced pressure since he retired from the track last year.
“It’s a great feeling not having as much pressure as I did on the track,” said Farah. “People expect you to win. Now [in the marathon] there are a lot of guys who can run a lot faster than me.
“It’s a good feeling but, when I turn out, I am going to give it 110 percent and see what I can do. My aim is to learn as much as I can and mix in with the guys.”
Farah, who has won 10 world and Olympic titles on the track, said he has been refreshed and motivated by having a new challenge. He has completed only one marathon, but has been training in Ethiopia with new coach Gary Lough, who guided his wife, Paula Radcliffe, to the marathon world record.
“It has definitely given me good confidence,” said Farah. “I am more relaxed, more easy, joking around. You have to enjoy what you do, and if you don’t enjoy it and you’re not happy then what is the point? It has given me a massive boost, and I’m enjoying it more than ever.”
Farah will be looking to improve on the disappointing time of 2hrs 8min 21sec he achieved on his last London Marathon, in 2014, when he failed to break the British record, set by Steve Jones in 1985, of 2hrs 7min 13sec.
He added that his efforts in 2014 were complicated by a need to “save energy” for the track, and said that he has now been able to concentrate on “going hard” in his preparations for Sunday’s race.
“I think the aim is to go after that British record,” said Farah. “But at the same time, since 2014 to now, I have learned a lot more and I understand a lot more. The aim is to go one step at a time, see what I can do and see what happens.”
Farah has memorised the European record – 2hrs 5min 48sec – and believes he has the ability to break that, even if it is not this weekend. —