Mo Farah braced for London Marathon ordeal

Double world and Olympic champion Mo Farah admitted on Tuesday that he will face a gruelling challenge when he runs the London Marathon for the first time this year. Having claimed victory in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at both the 2012 London Olympics and last year's World Championships, the 30-year-old Briton is now turning his sights to the marathon. He ran half of last year's London Marathon and will complete the full race in April, when he will come up against some of the biggest names in marathon running. World-record holder Wilson Kipsang, Olympic and world champion Stephen Kiprotich, reigning champion Tsegaye Kebede and course record-holder Emmanuel Mutai will all be in the field for the April 13 race. Ethiopia great Kenenisa Bekele was the only notable absentee from the elite men's start list announced on Tuesday, as he has elected to run the Paris Marathon a week earlier instead. Despite the strength of the field, Farah is looking forward to the challenge. "I gained a lot of valuable experience running part of the course alongside the top guys last year and can't wait to race over the full distance this April," he said. "The London Marathon always attracts the world's best runners to its elite fields and this year will be no different. I am expecting it to be one of my toughest races and a real learning experience. "I had another great year on the track in 2013, but the marathon is my main focus for this year. As a young boy growing up in London it has always been my ambition to run the London Marathon and to be able to make my marathon debut in my home town is very special." Farah is bidding to become the first British man to win the London Marathon since Eamonn Martin's success 21 years ago. London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher said: "We are delighted to announce another superb elite men's field for the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon, a line-up containing the usual array of record-breakers, global champions and worldwide marathon winners." Source: AFP