Tirunesh Dibaba has taken advice from another great of distance running as she prepares to make her marathon debut on Sunday.
The Ethiopian, like Mo Farah, has made her name in the 5,000metres and 10,000m with three Olympic and five world titles.
Like Farah she has also chosen London to make her bow over 26miles and has turned to compatriot Haile Gebrselassie for help.
Gebrselassie, who will run as a pacesetter for the men’s race, won six world and Olympic titles over 10,000m before making the step up to the marathon.
Although he never triumphed in London — his best performance was third in 2002 — he broke the world record in 2008 with a time of 2:03:59.
Dibaba is thankful she has tapped into his knowledge and said: “Haile has been great with me. I am very grateful that he shared all his experience.
“The marathon is new to me but I’m prepared. I’ve trained intensively for five months. It makes me quite confident for this marathon. I am ready.”
The 28-year-old, who won the 10,000m at London 2012, is fourth favourite with the bookmakers and is part of a high-quality field.
Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya will be defending her title, Ethipoia’s Tiki Gelana, who won in 2012, is the fastest woman in the field with a time of 2:18:58 while Kenyan Edna Kiplagat is another contender for the crown.
