Marathon debutante Sifan Hassan ‘curious’ ahead of London race

LONDON – Olympic gold medallist Sifan Hassan is “curious” about her debut marathon on Sunday in London, a run she describes as a test that is likely to inform how she approaches the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 30-year-old Dutch middle-distance runner also admits to a feeling many of the 45,000 amateur runners tackling the London Marathon will sympathise with.

“My feeling is nervous, and curious at the same time,” she said.

“Can I defeat the marathon, or is it going to defeat me?“

After gruelling training runs without food or water during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, she said she has no particular time in mind for finishing the race.

At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Hassan dominated the track with a rare triple, winning gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres as well as bronze in the 1,500m.

But she managed only sixth and fourth in the 5,000m and 10,000m respectively at last July’s World Championships in Oregon.

If Sunday goes well, she may consider another marathon in the autumn, she said, adding that she still loved track and did not yet know how her Paris Olympics plans might change.

In what race organisers say is the greatest-ever elite women’s field at the London Marathon, Hassan is up against defending champion Yalemzerf Yehualaw, world-record holder Brigid Kosgei and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir.

The organisers say they see the world record of 2hr 14min 4sec, set by Kosgei in Chicago in 2019, being broken.

“In terms of who’s going to win, I do not have a clue,” race director Hugh Brasher said. “If that comes down to a sprint finish... I think it’s going to be fascinating.”

Britain’s reigning Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres champion Eilish McColgan was also set to run her debut marathon, but she has been forced to pull out due to a knee injury.

“I’ve tried, trust me, but it’s just got to the point where it’s not going to be feasible to run a marathon this weekend,” said the 32-year-old, who had also withdrawn from the race in 2022 due to a medical issue. “I’ve shed a lot of tears the last couple of days, but there is always going to be another London Marathon.”

Another athlete who will be emotional is Mo Farah, who is predicting “tears and emotion” when he retires from marathon running. The British distance great, a four-time Olympic champion on the track, announced in January that 2023 would be his final year as a top-flight athlete.

He missed the 2022 London Marathon with a hip injury but the 40-year-old, who has been in training in Ethiopia, is now ready for one final appearance.

He said: “It won’t be my last race but in terms of the marathon, the London Marathon will be my last.

“I started the mini-marathon here so for me it will be quite emotional. The support, the people coming out in London, I think that will get to me but I will try not to think about it and run.” REUTERS, AFP