Farah keen on CT Marathon

Though it won’t be this year, and it might not be next, British distance running icon Mo Farah (below) has hinted that he could turn out at the Cape Town Marathon when he makes a return to the classic distance.

Farah was unveiled as a global ambassador yesterday for the inaugural edition of the Virtual Cape Town Marathon, which was set to be held on 18 October after the annual road race was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It would be great to have some competition, and I invite people to come run the Virtual 10km Peace Run with me,” Farah said.

“Let’s put in the work. I’m looking forward to taking part.” A six-time world champion on the track, Farah won the 5 000m and 10 000m double in front of his home crowd at the 2012 London Olympics, and he successfully defended both titles at the 2016 Rio Games.

Having made a temporary transition to the road in recent years, winning the 2018 Chicago Marathon in a personal best of 2:05:11, he confirmed he would focus on the track again at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

After the Games, however, the 37-year-old athlete suggested he could compete in Africa’s only Gold Label road race in the Mother City.

“I would love to run the Cape Town Marathon,” Farah said.

“I’m going to concentrate on the 10 000m at the Olympics next year because I’m still hungry and I want medals (on the track), but after that I might plan on running another marathon.”

The Cape Town Marathon organisers were eager to reach a wide range of participants by offering 5km, 10km, 21.1km and 42.2km virtual events.

“It would be really great to have some competition, and I invite people to come run the Virtual 10km Peace Run with me,” Farah said.