Sir Mo Farah ready to bid cross country farewell in Edinburgh

Sir Mo Farah has revealed that Saturday’s Simplyhealth Great Edinburgh XCountry is likely to be the last cross country race of his career.

The newly-knighted four-time Olympic champion will aim to get his 2017 off to a winning start in Holyrood Park over 8km. However, his task will be far from easy in a field including the likes of American three-time champion Garrett Heath, who defeated him last year.

Farah, who says “training is okay”, is building towards the last hurrah of his track career at the World Championships in London this summer, before his attention turns to the roads and longer distances. And he will take time to acknowledge there are other events in the coming year which will be appearing on his running agenda for the final time.

“I think it’s going to be pretty much my last cross country because I have to be able to plan for the road,” he says of his weekend’s mission. “I think you’ll probably most likely see me competing at 15km, 10 miles and half marathon and then the marathon. In order for me to learn about the marathon I need to try and compete more (at the longer distances).

“I’m lucky to have had the career I’ve had and at some point everything has to come to an end. It’s not what I want to do but at the same time I feel it’s right. I’d like to be able to see what I can do at the World Champs and then I want to move to the marathon. This is it, I guess.”

There is sure to be a sizeable, supportive crowd in attendance in the Scottish capital. Given his new title, it remains to be seen which name the British public will use to cheer him on. The man himself insists little has changed.

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