Sir Mo Farah believes winning the Virgin Money London Marathon would be one of his biggest achievements.
Farah is one of Britain’s most decorated athletes, with four Olympic gold medals and multiple world titles, and his transition from the track to the marathon has gone well as he is the British and European record holder.
He claimed the British record in finishing third in the exhausting heat of London last year, with a time of two hours six minutes and 21 seconds, and then bettered that by 70 seconds to win the Chicago Marathon in October, taking the European record.
The 36-year-old will have to run the race of his life if he is to win on Sunday, though, as world record holder Eliud Kipchoge heads a stellar field.
The Kenyan smashed the world record by 78 seconds with a time of 2hrs 01min 39secs in winning in Berlin last September and is going for a men’s record fourth win in the capital.
“It would be an amazing achievement, my aim is to win the London Marathon one day,” Farah said.
“That is my task, but you can’t take it for granted because Eliud is a great athlete and a world record holder. If I do beat him it would be an amazing achievement.
“I don’t go out there to try and finish third or fourth. Sometimes you are beaten by a better man and you have to accept that and you go home and think about what you need to do to beat him.
“The rivalry is great for the sport, it’s one the sport needs. Eliud is a great athlete, he’s a world record holder, but I believe I can win more major marathons.”
Farah will have learned from last year’s race where he was in contention until the searing heat in the capital’s hottest ever marathon took its toll and he was unable to keep the pace with winner Kipchoge and runner-up Tola Shura Kitata.
“I am really excited to be back,” he added. “I am learning as a I go along, marathons are completely different to track.
🔥 @EliudKipchoge 🔥 @Mo_Farah🔥 @ShuraKitata The best long-distance runners in the World, have arrived in London! 🇬🇧#LondonMarathon #ThanksaBillion pic.twitter.com/BHmgA0hcay — Virgin Money London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 24, 2019
“Racing against Eliud in London, learning the hard way, I do feel like I have learned a lot. It’s gone well in terms of running, it’s been perfect. I couldn’t ask for a better training.
“The crowd always help me in London, they do lift me up. I can’t wait to get out on the street. My aim is just to go out there and see what I can do.
“You have to stay positive and strong. Eliud has a bit more pressure than me, even though I am in London. I have to be smart in the race and give it 110 per cent.
“I’m fit and I have done some great training in the last three months. I am still learning and you only learn from more races.”
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