Will Mo Farah’s retirement be sweet or sour?

British athlete fails to score well in 10km race two weeks before 2023 London Marathon

The last and final participation of Mo Farah, 40, in the London marathon may not be as glamorous as the multi-medal world and Olympic athlete imagines. Farah participated this last Sunday in the 10km POGheld in Porto Gentil, Gabon, Africa, and was only eighth, completing the race in 30:41.

Okay, the temperature might not have been the best (average 25 degrees centigrade) but anyway, the Kenyan Vincent Kipkemoi won the competition in 28:11. Don’t forget that the temperature shouldn’t be something that could affect Farah’s performance, as they have been preparing for the 42 km in Ethiopia.

Of course, Mo Farah didn’t intend to win, but to put his training to the test and it seems not to have been a good idea when it comes to gaining confidence, after all, 30:41 in the 10 km gives an average pace of 3: 04 min/km, which would project a marathon for 2h09, remembering that Farah has a personal record of 2:05:11, achieved when he won the 2018 Chicago Marathon. , which has a forecast of rain and a minimum temperature of 6 and a maximum of 14 degrees centigrade for April 16th – much friendlier than 25 degrees, isn’t it?

RETIREMENT? Farah had already “retired” from marathons when he decided to try again to qualify to run the 10,000 meters at the Tokyo Games, not being successful in his mission. In my view, Mo Farah, despite getting good results in marathons, must resent not having managed to become a great champion of 42 km. Something complicated for someone who lives in a world where Eliud Kipchogeand, inevitably, the two lined up in the same London marathon, which Eliud won four times.

Mo still tried to participate in the London race last year, but was injured in the preparation. Anyway, we hope that at least he can retire from marathons with a nice time and with his head held high (or not).