Mo Farah only has London Marathon in his sights

Mo Farah celebrates a victory at the IAAF London Diamond League meeting this year. Picture: PA

After reports last week suggested that the world’s greatest distance runner would compete in one discipline at both the European Championships and Commonwealth Games, Farah, who holds the Olympic and world titles at 5,000 and 10,000 metres, yesterday said that anything taking place next summer would pale into insignificance behind his big plan for the spring – the London Marathon on 14 April. “I’ve had a break and just started back running now. My main aim is to do the London marathon and see what I can do.”

Pushed on his view of Glasgow 2014, Farah replied warily, whereas other London 2012 icons such as Jessica Ennis-Hill and Usain Bolt have expressed a fervent wish to take part, subject to clearance from medical and management parties.

“I don’t even know if I’m going to do it, the Commonwealths or the Europeans,” said 30-year-old Farah, who was also non-committal on the chances of him reappearing at the Olympic Games in 2016. “It all depends how I come off the marathon, it’s totally different from the track.

“As an athlete you just have to take it one year at a time and focus each year. Then after that, the next year. Rio’s still way ahead so I’m not even thinking about it at all. But the Olympics, it’s the big one.”

The Somalia-born British phenomenon was eager to set the record straight on another story that has created speculation and comment within the running community. That was his misconstrued declaration that the marathon can be run in under two hours.

“For me to say I can run under two hours is ridiculous,” added an adamant Farah.