The Winners the Losers

THE WINNERS THE LOSERS 20 Wednesday, April 18, 2018 SPORTS Farah ready to mix it in the marathon Briton’s Mo Farah’s long-term goal is the 2020 Olympics in marathon-mad Japan London 33-year-old British record of 2:07:13. hether months of 120 Twelve men in Sunday’s field have run faster miles-a-week altitude than Farah, with Kenenisa Bekele and Eliud Wtraining will be enough to Kipchoge, the second and third-fastest men in transform Mo Farah into history, among those a full three minutes quicker a world-class marathon and defending champion Daniel Wanjiru one of runner will be revealed on four with a 2:04-something to their names. the streets of London on Olympic champion Kipchoge’s best of 2:03:05 Sunday but the switch equates to him finishing more than a mile already seems to have ahead of Farah and the Briton was somewhat transformed his contradictory when discussing his approach to state of mind. the race. Farah has On the one hand he said “there’s only one way endured a to run and that’s mixing it with the guys” but prickly he also described the race as part of a learning relationship process in which the British record was his aim. with the media, Long-term goal suing one Farah’s long-term goal is the 2020 Olympics in British marathon-mad Japan and the 35-year-old Briton journalist knows he must improve dramatically to be in the this medal mix. year for “Through my years on the track I was learning repeating and improving step by step and it’s the same in IAAF concerns over his blood passport the marathon,” he said. values, but he seemed a changed man “That’s what it will take for me to medal in as he looked ahead to Sunday’s London Tokyo. If I can do two marathons a year and Marathon. learn from them, if everything goes well, if you’re “I’m more relaxed, the change from strong and you learn, I think I’m of capable of track has given me a massive boost and 2:04 or 2:03 in the right race.” I’m enjoying it more than ever,” he told a Since switching to the marathon last year news conference on Tuesday two hours after Farah is no longer coached by Alberto Salazar arriving from Ethiopia. and his Nike Oregon project, which is still under “On the track I’ve won most of the investigation by U.S. anti-doping authorities. medals I could win so each year to Farah has previously said the split had nothing motivate yourself gets more difficult. to do with accusations that Salazar bent and You have to find a new challenge, abused anti-doping rules and was because he something that gets you out of wanted to return to England where he is now bed.” coached by Gary Lough, the husband and former Having spent close to a decade coach of women’s marathon world record holder lining up as the favourite to bag Paula Radcliffe. multiple world, Olympic and Farah, who on Tuesday described Lough as European titles over 5,000 and a genius, is still working with strength coach 10,000 metres, Farah goes into Dave McHenry, who has never featured in the Sunday’s race not even ranked in allegations being investigated by USADA but the top 10. who has been involved with the Oregon Project His only previous marathon, at for more than 10 years. London in 2014, produced an eighth- Farah said he had not spoken to Salazar and placed finish in just over two hours not seen McHenry since October. eight minutes, not even good enough to “Through British Athletics he (McHenry) sent challenge Steve me a lifting and strength guide and that’s all,” Jones’s Farah said. (Reuters) “I’m more relaxed, the change from track has given me a massive boost and I’m enjoying it more than ever”.

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