Mo Farah to run in World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 21/01/16 4:16pm
Mo Farah has announced plans to compete at the World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff on March 26.
The double Olympic champion will continue his preparations for the summer season, and the defence of his 5,000 and 10,000 metres crowns in Rio, by racing over 13.1 miles in the Welsh capital.
The 32-year-old said: "I am pleased to announce that I am available for selection for the British team in Cardiff at the IAAF/Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships.
"I've never run at the World Half Marathon Championships before and I know the standard is incredibly high, with athletes who really target and train specifically for the event, so I know it will be a hard race.
"It will be a good chance to try to claim another world title and I know that the British fans will be out in force. I always get amazing support whenever I race in the UK and I hope this will help me along the way.
"My primary aim for 2016 is the Olympic Games in Rio in August, but this race will be a good way to build my endurance before I return to the track in the summer. I hear the course in Cardiff is very fast and it may take a personal best to win the race, but I'm up for the challenge."
Farah ran his half marathon PB in winning the Morrisons Great North Run last September in 59 minutes 22 seconds. He is the European record holder for the distance.
Farah's first race of the year was at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country on January 9, where he finished second over the 8km course.
His first track race of 2016 will be over 3,000m at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix on February 20, but he has opted to skip the World Indoor Championships in his home town of Portland, Oregon, which takes place a week before the World Half Marathon Championships.
British Athletics will announce its team for the Cardiff event on March 7.
