Mo Farah announces return to Capital cross country

Mo Farah has announced his first race of 2015 will be the Great Edinburgh Cross Country in January. Pic: Ian Rutherford

The double Olympic, world and European track champion told Athletics Weekly he would start his preparation for defending his world 5000 and 10,000m titles by taking part in the Great Edinburgh Cross Country on January 10.

And the 31-year old will be looking to repeat the success of his last visit to the Capital - when he won the event, before going on to claim his first world gold in the 5000m.

“Next year will be an important year for me, and I’m looking forward to returning to the Great Edinburgh Cross Country to kick off my season,“ he said. “For many years I ran cross country to build my base for the summer track season and it will be nice to return to Edinburgh and try to repeat my winning run of 2011 there.”

And after becoming the first British man since Steve Kenyon in 1985 to win the Great North Run, few would bet against Farah winning in the Capital.

“It was a fantastic feeling winning the Great North Run in front of a home crowd, and I’m sure there will be plenty of support in Edinburgh for my first event of 2015,” he said.

The Great Edinburgh Cross Country will be held in Holyrood Park and is set to be shown live on the BBC.