by Stuart Weir
Eliud Kipchoge, photo by London Marathon
Eliud Kipchoge won his 4th London, 11th of 12 marathons. Mosinet Geremew battled Kipchoge to the very end. Mo Farah took a step back. Lessons to be learned. Stuart Weir puts the men’s race into perspective.
Mo Farah had to be satisfied with fifth place in the Virgin Money London Marathon, finishing in a time of 2:05:39 more than three minutes behind the winner, Eliud Kipchoge. Once Farah had allowed a gap to open up on the leaders, there was no way back. Farah said of his race: “I didn’t feel great at the start but I followed the pace maker. I felt good half way and by twenty miles a gap was there. My aim was to reel them back once the pacemaker dropped out but wasn’t able to. I am disappointed as training went well. I don’t regret anything I said and I respect the race. I need to go home to think about it. I promise I will be back”. Farah said of the winner Eliud Kipchoge: “He’s incredible, congratulations”.
Kipchoge, a previous winner of Berlin (3 times), Chicago, Rotterdam, Hamburg not to mention three previous London marathons and the 2016 Olympics, said of his fourth London win: “It feels strange to be considered the most successful elite man in racing, it’s really good and I’m very very happy to have won four times. It’s a surprise when everybody tells me I’ve made history, but I’m just pleased to be part of an event which has raised £1 billion for charity.”
Commenting on this approach to the race he said: “It was a very tactical race as everyone was there, but I know how to win this race and I was confident and didn’t feel it was in doubt at any point.”
Following the Kenyan home were three Ethiopians Mosinet Geremew, Mule Wasihun and Tola Shura Kitata.
