Mo: ‘I’ve not se for months in glory bid’
It will take my total raised for various charities to more than £300,000.
I can’t emphasise just how incredible the atmosphere is on the day as over 40,000 runners come together.
I get goosebumps every year thanks to the millions of supporters lining the streets to cheer the runners on.
If you have never done it and are tempted then enter the ballot. It’s definitely one for the bucket list!
SIR Mo Farah didn’t see his wife and children for three months as he got ready for today’s London Marathon.
The runner has been training in Africa since January as he attempts to go from track star to road champion.
Mo has twin daughters Aisha and Amani, five, a son Hussein, two, and step-daughter Rihanna, 12, with wife Tania, 31.
But he has sacrificed his family life to give himself the best chance of success today.
Mo, 35, said: “I’ve been training hard in Ethiopia. It’s been difficult and hard at times. The hardest thing has been the fact I was unable to see my family for the last three months.
“There’s not much internet access so we haven’t even been able to FaceTime. It’s been quite a big adjustment.
“The purpose is to be fully focused and to work hard.
“I’m really looking forward to having some family time after the race.
“We will go on holiday, be a family and spend quality time with the kids. But before then I have a job to do to make all the sacrifices worthwhile.”
Mo has won four Olympic, five European and six World gold medals.
The athlete was practically unbeatable on the track between 2011 and 2017.
But he starts today’s race as an underdog in his first serious attempt on the race.
He said: “It’s quite nice not to be the favourite but I enter every race believing I can win and wanting to get on the podium.
“I would love to beat the British or European record but I’m just going to get in the mix and see what happens.”