Mo Farah Victorious at 2011 Nike Pre 10,000m: What it really means, by Larry Eder

Mo Farah, 2011 Nike Pre Classic 10,000m, photo by PhotoRun.net

By the time that Mo Farah moved up from the back of the pack, to the front pack, and then, at 9,000 meters, into the lead, all six thousand fans in Eugene were his. Mo Farah, now coached by Alberto Salazar, is the adopted son of Eugene, Oregon. The athletes in the Oregon project, from Galen Rupp, to Chris Solinsky and Matt Tegenkamp, get wild applause when they line up on Hayward Field.

This night was for Mo though. As Galen Rupp had pulled out of the race due to allergy issues, and Chris Solinsky had withdrawn 2600 meters into the race with an injury, the identification for Eugene was Mo Farah.

Mo Farah, born in Somalia, moved to UK at the age of 8, and is a product of the British running system. He is also an example of what happens when British and American ingenuity comes together. In this case, Ian Stewart of UK athletics and Alberto Salazar of Nike’s Oregon Project.

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Mo Farah, 2011 Nike Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net

Mo Farah is the European Champion from 2010, in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. He broke Dave Moorcrofts venerable record at 5,000m, when set, a world record, with his run of 12:57.94 last summer.

This past winter, Mo Farah moved to Portland, Oregon, to train with Galen Rupp, under the watchful eyes of Alberto Salazar.

Alberto Salazar, as coach, and Ian Stewart as adviser, has been a good match. Stewart took over UK Endurance less than two years ago. A former European and Commonwealth champion at 5,000 meters, an Olympic bronze medalist at 5,000 meters, and a world cross country champ, Stewart knows the reality of being a world class distance runner. There are no short cuts, Stewart would tell you, and in Alberto Salazar, he found a kindred spirit.

Mo Farah, 2011 Nike Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net

Alberto Salazar was very happy with Mo Farah’s arrival in Portland. ” He makes a great training partner for Galen Rupp.” noted Alberto last February. Farah already had the makings of a great distance runner, and his racing senses have been honed over the past few years. His wins at the European Indoor in 2009, and again in 2011, were most impressive, especially the 2011 Paris race, where he ran a scintillating last 200 meters to hold of several runners intent on ruining his day.

Mo Farah, 2011 Nike Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net

Over the past fifteen to twenty years, Alberto Salazar has honed his coaching skills. To use a phrase Kenny Moore used to first describe marathoner Ron Hill, Alberto Salazar is “possessed by the scientific method”. Alberto is always curious, always looking on how he can make his distance wards better, and more ready for racing. His athletes race alot, and seem to thrive on that. For instance, Mo has run cross country this winter, as well as two very tough 3,000 meters (Boston & Paris), plus a 5,000 meter (European/British record) in Birmingham and a half marathon in New York City. All of this, and maintaining a reported 120 miles per week.

Mo Farah, 2011 Nike Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net

Salazar has learnt to develop the whole runner. From core training to swim training, to massage, to strength training, it is all there. Kara Goucher once told us that, before Osaka World Champs 10,000 meters, she knew she had done all that she could to prepare. This allows the runner to relax and focus on the prize: winning the race.

Victory is Mine, Mo Farah, 2011 Nike Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net

That Mo Farah started out in the back of the pack is pure Alberto. That Mo Farah had the confidence to move up through the field, letting the huge pack destroy itself, is racing experience.

Mo Farah moved steadily through the pace, hitting the 9,000 meter mark in 24:20, meaning that Farah ran the last 1,000 meters in 2:25, very, very fast for a distance runner. That Mo Farah out kicked the meanest kicker around, Imange Merga, king of the 5,000 meters in Samsung Diamond League in 2010, should also be noted! His time of 26:46.57, broke his pb by 45 seconds!

The new fans of Mo Farah, 2011 Nike Pre Classic, photo by PhotoRun.net

This race put Mo Farah in everyone’s attention span. He not only decimated the British record of Jon Brown (27:18.14), he also broke the European record of 26:52 from 1999! His 26:46.57 is simply the fastest time in two years in the world!

This is no fluke. Farah will run faster and race even better. When I caught up with him on Saturday, after the Pre meeting proper, Mo was on the massage table, and doing fine. ” I am a little tight, but feel great! ” Mo told me as we chatted for a few minutes.

Mo Farah with his coach, Alberto Salazar, 2011 Nike Pre Classic,
photo by PhotoRun.net

What does this race mean? That British and American athletes do have a chance in the big races. First, you have to train, and train hard and consistently. You need to have the support of a coach and training partners. And, you need the support of your Federation and or sponsor. Most of all, you must bring people into the sport with athletic talent.

Mo Farah undeniably, has talent. He also worked very hard and had the support of UK athletics and his sponsor, Nike. He also has a superb coach, Alberto Salazar, and an advisor who has been there, Ian Stewart.

With that kind of support, let’s see how MO Farah does in Daegu 2011 and London 2012.

For more on Mo Farah, read Pat Butcher’s splendid column: http://www.globerunner.org/index.php/06/21st-century-mo/

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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