Press Release - London Marathon - 4/8/14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     'Farah Fulfills one of Our Founding Principles,' Says Brasher

Mo Farah's presence on the start line of the elite men's race at this 
Sunday's Virgin Money London Marathon will fulfill one of the founding 
principles of the event, said race director Hugh Brasher today.

"When my father, Chris Brasher, and John Disley started the London Marathon 
back in 1981, one of the founding principles of the event was to improve 
the standard and status of British marathon running," he said.

"But it's been 21 years since there has been some male interest from a UK 
perspective so I'm delighted to welcome Mo back to his home city of London 
for his marathon debut on Sunday.

"The London Marathon has supported Mo throughout his career, from when he 
won the Mini London Marathon three times as a school boy, through the time 
he spent as a student at St Mary's University College in Twickenham, until 
now, when he trains at the British High Altitude training camp in Iten, 
Kenya - a programme that is part-funded by the London Marathon.

"We are delighted that Mo has chosen to make his marathon debut here in 
London."

Farah told the British press he is thrilled to be making his marathon debut 
in his home city in a race he has looked forward to running since he was a 
child.

"The London Marathon is the biggest marathon in the world," Farah said 
today. "I've been looking forward to running it since I was a kid doing the 
Mini Marathon.

"Now I'm really looking forward to going the full distance and testing 
myself on Sunday."

Now a double world and Olympic champion on the track, Farah was keen to 
play down his chances of winning, pointing out that he'll be up against the 
best men's marathon field ever assembled, including world-record holder 
Wilson Kipsang, 2013 London Marathon champion Tsegaye Kebede, Olympic 
champion Stephen Kiprotich and London course record holder Emmanuel Mutai.

"My training has gone really well but training for a marathon is completely 
different to training for the track because you don't often run the full 
race distance in training," he said. "I'm looking forward to finding out if 
I'm any good at the marathon."

Whatever happens on Sunday, Brasher believes Farah's debut fits in 
perfectly with the event's founding principles. "We're confident that Mo's 
marathon debut will do much to inspire the next generation of runners and 
help to raise the standard of British endurance running.

"The country's best young runners will take part in the Virgin Money Giving 
Mini London Marathon on the last three miles of the course just hours 
before Mo races in the capital, all of them hoping to follow in his 
footsteps.

"I'm sure many of them will be hoping that Mo can continue his winning 
streak in London too." 

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