I haven't been the biggest fan of Mo from the beginning but throughout the years he has managed to convince me. His 2mile indoor record and now this HM European record shows he is a very serious and versatile runner.
What happened last year in Manchester was a Marketing PR stunt and it was a bit sad to watch, but Mutai and Kimetto did the same in Berlin in 2012. They are both great runners despite that…
I ran the race today and when I crossed paths with the leaders at 32min he was way off… I thought he had crashed and burned. When we crossed again at 52min he was back with Kogo and Kibet.
The conditions were far from ideal for a record attempt, there was a strong headwind in the first 5K and an even stronger headwind the last 4K. It was very warm so hats off to him, a truly exceptional effort.
Kogo fought hard, even trying to catch Farah off guard in the last 5 meters but Farah was already cruising across the line. His kick is unmatchable, only an in-form Bekele could hold him off.
If he had made the right choice (going with the lead pack) in London last year the story would have probably been a bit different.
One other thing is that I've actually met the man the day before the race and he is truly a top bloke. Very nice and friendly to anyone who approaches him.
I am, as of today, a Mo fan.