Mo Farah is preparing to say an “emotional” London Marathon “goodbye” to his home support after confirming his participation in April’s race. <\/span><\/p>\n The four-time Olympic champion, 39, expects 2023 to be his final year of racing before retirement.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n But he is unsure if the marathon will be his last competitive event, saying he will take it “one race at a time”.<\/span><\/p>\n Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan will make her marathon debut in the event on 23 April.<\/span><\/p>\n “Without the fans I don’t think I would have ever achieved what I have,” said Farah.<\/span><\/p>\n “It is just nice to say goodbye and I think it will be quite emotional.”<\/span><\/p>\n Both Farah and McColgan were due to run in 2022 but had to pull out because of fitness problems.<\/span><\/p>\n The London Marathon returns to its pre-pandemic spring slot for the first time in three years and will be broadcast live on BBC TV, iPlayer and online.<\/span><\/p>\n A hip injury prevented Farah, who turns 40 in March, from taking part in last year’s event and this will be his first full marathon since 2019, where he came fifth.<\/span><\/p>\n The British marathon record holder is set to contest his fourth London Marathon and has a best finish of third in 2018 – the year he would also go on to claim his only major marathon win in Chicago.<\/span><\/p>\n “It has been an amazing career and, for me, to take part in London Marathon is a big deal,” said Farah. <\/span><\/p>\n “I have always said it would be nice to win it one day, but it takes a lot.”<\/span><\/p>\n The six-time world track champion, winner of the Big Half in London in September, has raced just seven times since October 2019. <\/span><\/p>\n Although he failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics – and surprisingly lost out to club runner Ellis Cross at the London 10,000 last May – he admits competing for his country still motivates him.<\/span><\/p>\n “I am very proud of what I have achieved and I just want to give myself one more shot and see what I can do. But I have nothing to prove,” Farah added.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’m not going to go to the Olympics and I think 2023 will probably be my last year. <\/span><\/p>\n “At the same time, if it came down to it towards the end of the year and I was picked for the country then I would never turn that down.” <\/span><\/p>\n For McColgan, her debut London Marathon appearance feels like destiny.<\/span><\/p>\n The 32-year-old, whose mother Liz won the London Marathon in 1996, claimed a total of four Commonwealth and European medals in a stellar 2022, in which she also broke Paula Radcliffe’s 21-year-old British half marathon record.<\/span><\/p>\n Although too young to recall her mother’s victory 27 years ago, pictures and videos of that day – in addition to a long-held awareness of her own strengths – means her first run on the famous course is an occasion long in the making.<\/span><\/p>\n “For me the iconic London Marathon is my mum coming down that last stretch,” McColgan said. <\/span><\/p>\n “The race is something I remember my mum and dad speaking about from a young age so it feels surreal to be taking part myself. I always thought one day I would do it.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s such an iconic race, even people who haven’t got an interest in running know about the London Marathon. It’s definitely a bucket-list race for me.<\/span><\/p>\n “My mum always told me ‘one day you’ll be a marathoner’. To be honest that petrified me as a kid but I think deep down I knew that was where my career was going.”<\/span><\/p>\n The Scot was forced to postpone her debut because of a medical issue called rebound hypoglycemia, which leads to reduced blood sugar levels, and McColgan is hopeful she has found a solution in the form of a carbohydrate drink following tests.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s a case of trialling the drink in a few more long runs. If that doesn’t work, they have another idea,” McColgan added. “It’s up to me to be honest and say whether I feel better or worse. Last year, there wasn’t the time to trial things.”<\/span><\/p>\n McColgan will be joined in the women’s race by Jess Piasecki and Charlotte Purdue – the second and fourth-fastest British females of all time.<\/span><\/p>\n‘I just want to give myself one more shot’ – Farah<\/h3>\n
![\"Mohamed](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/B49C\/production\/_128463264_gettyimages-1325475144.jpg\")
<\/span><\/span>Destiny calls for McColgan in ‘bucket-list’ race<\/h3>\n
![\"Eilish](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/185C\/production\/_128463260_gettyimages-1412735538.jpg\")
<\/span><\/span>