Farah promises excellence ahead of ‘the biggest race’
Track champ believes he can break record — but perhaps not yet
● Mo Farah believes he is capable of competing with the world’s finest marathon runners as he comes into today’s London Marathon feeling as relaxed as ever.
Farah, who this week flew into the English capital from his training camp in Ethiopia, said he believed he had 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 would try to match the main contenders even if they ran at a worldrecord pace.
“This is the biggest race,” Farah said. “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 training schedule, and by the easing of the 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,” Farah said. “On the track 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% 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 had been refreshed and motivated by having a new challenge. He has completed only one marathon before, 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,” Farah said. “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 2hr 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 2:07:13.
He said that his efforts in 2014 were complicated by a need to “save energy” for the track, and that he had now been able to fully concentrate on “going hard” in his preparations for today’s race.
“I think the aim is definitely to go after that British record,” Farah said. “But at the same time, since 2014 to now I have learned a lot more and I understand a lot more. The aim is just to go one step at a time, to go after that British record, see what I can do.”
Farah has memorised the European record — 2:05:48 — and believes he has the ability to break that, even if it may not be possible this weekend.
“If everything goes well, and you’re strong and you learn, I think I am capable of running 2:04 or 2:03 in the right race with the right pace. But [the London Marathon] is going to be different. There are many, many guys who are there to fight, so it is going to be a difficult race.
“A win would be amazing for me. But every race I go into is to fight and try to go for podiums.”
Farah admitted to wondering how he would have fared on the track at this month’s Commonwealth Games, but added: “As an athlete you have to be honest yourself. You have to find a new challenge, something that gets you out of bed.” — © The Daily Telegraph, London
There is only one way to run and that is mixing in Mo Farah Champion runner