‘It was fun. I’ve really enjoyed myself,’ said Mo Farah, after pacing the 2020 London Marathon

• Mo Farah was a pacer at Sunday's Virgin Money London Marathon.
• He helped two British runners, Jonny Mellor and Ben Connor, cross the line in the Olympic qualifying time.

‘It was fun, it’s different, it’s a different feeling, it’s not as much pressure as racing. I enjoyed myself today,’ said Farah, after completing his pacing duties at the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday.

‘It was a very different experience but I really enjoyed myself and I’m so glad to see two of the [British] guys get the [Olympic] qualifying time and just the whole group of different nations getting the qualifying time as well.’

Farah helped pace Brits Jonny Mellor and Ben Connor, both of whom met the Olympic qualifying time, with finishes of 2:10:38 and 2:11:20, respectively. Farah could be seen speaking to the runners on the course. Asked what they spoke about, Farah said, ‘

My job was basically to try to make it as easy as possible for them, and I know what it feels like sometimes when you are against the clock and thinking about pace, and I was just talking to them saying “You’re on the right track” and then finding out as much information as I could from outside to make sure they were on the right time.'

Speaking about Eliud Kipchoge's shock defeat, Farah said, ‘You never know. You could be in the best shape and turn up...I know Kipchoge well enough and as an athlete you never put yourself in that position if you’re not 100 per cent. In a way, it’s good for him because he’s not ready to go back and focus on something else and the result, it’s different.

‘The result, I was just watching it, it’s different, but obviously there was a lot of pressure, but it happens with the weather conditions and a great field.’

Farah revealed he had unfinished business with the marathon distance, saying, ‘I’d still like to be able to run a decent marathon. Looking at the time today [2:06], it’s something I’m capable of but at the same time, next year, it’s a big year for us, having postponed the Olympics, it gives me another year to get more races under my belt and definitely my focus is the 10,000m in Tokyo 2021. And after that, who knows?'

Reference: Jane McGuire: 1 day ago