World Half Marathon Championships Athletics

Before this afternoon and against the world's best distance runners.

The daffodils may be in bloom but the sun certainly is not in Cardiff

and through the rest of the UK, I think, this weekend. It is blustery,

windy, and just about starting to rain, lots of Cagle is being worn

back there. The first race will be the elite women's half marathon. Mo

Farah goes in the men's race, the masses at 2:10pm. Looking forward to

that. But the women's race is where we will see one or two of the new

Kenyan names, we expect them to dominate, they took the last five --

the first five places the last time this was contested. All teams have a

maximum of five members taking part, Australia with quite a strong team.

As ever, the strength of Ethiopia and Kenya will dictate. You wonder

how well Great Britain can do, led by Alyson Dixon, who will run in the

London Marathon, hoping to secure her place in Rio. You can see all of

the rest of the teams taking part. Big turnout in the world

Championships in Cardiff, only once has there been more athletes taking

part than on this occasion. Held every two years now, it used to be

every year but now just every two years. I'm not sure many of them

would have been thinking of coming to Cardiff at the end of March and

being faced with the weather we have today! Joining me in the commentary

box, Paula Radcliffe. You know Cardiff very well, we are looking

forward to what we hope will be a great afternoon's racing.

Absolutely, I was there yesterday running through this area, through

the start area, a beautiful sunny day and the athletes would have

loved to have seen that they switched with today! But it is the

same conditions for all of the athletes, and, if anything,

conditions that the British and European athletes are accustomed to

coping with, and just about doing your best on the day. Well, the

weather will not dampen the enthusiasm of the city and those who

will come out and watch on the streets, expecting tens of thousands

of people to watch. Around 16,000 will take part in the mass race with

Mo Farah later but we will concentrate on the women, one of the

favourites, were Sarah. -- Mary Wacera. Japan have a strong team,

and Cynthia Limo, who has been running very quickly recently, the

personal-best set early in the year, 66.0 four. Five of the world's top

women in 2016 are in this race, so very much looking forward to what

can happen. Alyson Dixon looking chilly, but she should not be, she

is from Sunderland! She has been in good form, ran well in Berlin, got

an Olympic qualifying there, not yet selected. Charlotte Purdue is in the

race, two or three others. We will go through the British team shortly

when we get under way and talk a bit about not only the British athletes

but others who will be hoping this race can help them get towards

selection for Rio. The they go, then. The elite women under way, the

world half of the in Cardiff, tough conditions, a tough race, a flat and

fast course, had it not been as blustery today we could have seen

some quick times, but it will be interesting to see what tactics are

employed by the best runners. I think we would have seen them

heading out fast and hard from the beginning, but you may have to hold

back a little bit, just be careful when they head around Cardiff Bay,

expecting it to be blustery out there, perhaps they will get the

full face of the wind. Just after half way they will turn back and

head towards this area, right in front of Cardiff Castle, if you know

Cardiff well, a beautiful backdrop. The city, as I said, delighted to be

hosting this event, and it is a good habit, we have had so many events,

in the next year or two the world Championships in London, the world

indoors coming to Birmingham, perhaps the European indoors to

Birmingham, so Cardiff playing its part in bringing big

Birmingham, so Cardiff playing its to the UK. It is great to see.

Seeing athletes compete in our country on home soil and all of the

benefits it brought, including the home support and the excellent

organisation, and when you watch events like this it makes you proud

to be British when you see how well the event is put on, how well the

athletes are welcomed. Despite the weather, they are happy to be racing

in Cardiff and there was lots of support along the streets. You will

race in the world Championships whatever the weather, but it begs a

difference to the crowds that will come out and support, but hopefully

the people of Cardiff will turn out en masse and get behind the runners.

The mass runners are going later on as well, 16,000 plus running there,

so lots of family and friends will be supporting them out on the street

as well. And supporting Mo Farah, of course. He will probably be well

as well. And supporting Mo Farah, of into his warm up now, maybe longer

warm up than he might have been expecting!

warm up than he might have been was saying, with the leading men off

at 2:10pm. For now, we will concentrate on this, we can look at

where they are going to head to, away from the castle, down through

Grangetown into Penarth, down by the marina about three miles, then

around Cardiff Bay, past the millennium Centre, this is where the

imported part of the race is, back with the wind on their backs,

heading up toward Roath Park Lake with three miles to go at the break

will be attempted, then they will finish back at the Civic Centre, not

far from City Hall. As I said, flat, fast, one or two twisty, turning

parts, but no reason why people, if they judge this right, just don't

overcook it into the difficult conditions in the early stages,

people can still end up with a pretty swift time. Let's talk about

the British contingent. I can see Alyson Dixon very close in the lead

group there, her only race in 2016 was up in the north, where my family

come from, but she is in good form and looking towards London. She is

joined by Rachel Felton and Tina Moore coming Jenny Steel having

pulled out earlier in the week, and Jenny Spink. There has been some

controversy around the selections, Alyson Dixon picked on form but also

on preparation, trying to help her get ready for the London Marathon.

Susan Partridge maybe not quite afforded

Susan Partridge maybe not quite probably should have

Susan Partridge maybe not quite Steel pulled out in the week that

Susan was not given the chance to step in and raised here,

Susan was not given the chance to on that for later in the year when

they get ready for the 10,000 metres on the track over the London

Marathon, to try to get the qualifying spots for Rio. Alyson

Dixon, Sonia Samuels ran very well particularly in Berlin in September,

and actually not long before Alyson particularly in Berlin in September,

Dixon ran the Great North Run, fairly swift a few weeks before she

went to Berlin, said this will give her an indication of where she is

at. I think she will go at this pretty hard, you would not come and

run this race and decide to take it easy! It will be interesting to see

how she goes. I can see and Eloise Wellings of Australia in the middle

of the group there, with the blonde hair tied back. Outside of the

Ethiopian and Kenya contingents, difficult to see anybody else

getting in there, particularly be Kenyon is, I'm not even sure the

Ethiopian team here is a strong as we have seen in recent years.

Absolutely, the strength in depth comes from the canyons, evidenced by

the fact that on the 2016 so -- list so far they fell eight of the first

ten places, including Limo, who is racing here today, backed up by Mary

Wacera, Gladys Cherono. They have fielded a very, very strong team.

They are challenging now, from the middle of the pack. Three to count

for your team, and it is the cumulative time that determines

where the medals go. The Japanese team well to the fore. The women

have always done very well but the men are tipped to do well in these

championships, maybe more so than the women. Already, gaps starting to

appear, suggesting the early pace is not too slow at all. To be fair, a

big group there, it will be five K before we get a split which will let

us know what pace they are running. This is a world Championships, so

even though it is in the UK and we usually talk about Miles, etc, there

are mile markers out there, we will watch out for them, but for the

purposes of an international road running event, it is the calamitous

split which will be the ones that we will see on screen. Out on the

course there probably will be mile markers to give the athletes the

feedback, but predominantly it will be the 5k splits that we are looking

out for. You can see how flat the cause is, and it is the same that

the wind is as strong as it is because the organisers put a lot of

work into making sure this is a fast course as well as a good course that

will show off Cardiff and the highlight of Cardiff as you move

around it. Talking to some of the runners in and around the expert

yesterday, they were saying that training around Cardiff Bay it is

generally quite hard to find somewhere flat but they managed to

do that predominantly throughout this race. There is an incline at

around 12 miles but otherwise a pretty flat course. And that will

impact on the men's race, the tactics in particular will come into

play. They know, if Mo Farah leads it towards the latter stages, he

will be dangerous. This morning I described his task in this race, it

is like going to their backyard, the specialists at half marathons, going

to their backyard, but in his backyard, if you know what I mean

ayes he is on home soil, but it is not his strongest event. You think

that the Kenyan women will think, we can run away from everybody. I think

that is absolutely the mindset that the Kenyan runners will have here.

We might see BEP appear girls being able to go with them. I was chatting

to a former world record-holder over the marathon distance for women, who

is now team manager for the Kenyan team here, and her pics were between

Mary Wacera and Cynthia Limo, she said they are the two front runners

in her team and she expects them to comfortably run away from the field,

and the only affect the weather would have is on how fast they are

able to run. But looking ahead to what Mo has to do, it is other

athletes, the likes of Karoki, who know what they have to do, which is

to break him early in the race. They cannot get within a sniff of the

last mile and still allowing him to be within shooting distance because

they know, time and time again, they are not able to run away from him in

the closing stages. Still the early stages here, there is Alyson Dixon.

Her dad, Dave, was a very good distance runner in his day for

Sunderland. She is very much a fixture in the local running scene

in the north-east, a very popular athlete, worked hard to get to the

position she is in, with a chance of going to the Olympic Games they

stay, but she knows she has to go to London, like everybody else, and

produce a performance there, so looking for a confidence boosting

run here. We have not seen much of the other British contingent close

to the leading group, but she has gone out here with intent. She tends

to run like that even in her marathons as well, she is not

frightened to go out and trust herself, back herself. Does not

always work out, but Absolutely not. You see that in her

training. She will push on the long runs to get the pace. Sometimes it

results in her getting overtired coming into events. But she looked

at this event as an important stepping stone towards London it is

not the primary target but a target she backed from this week and wants

to use it as a hard tempo run, as a good indication before the marathons

to come to get an idea of what she can do in London. How to judge it,

how to pace it. I know she will use it as a practice. To see what she

needs to take on. Practicing drinking the fluids, opening the

gels, and eating the gels too, while moving along at race pace. That is

hard to replicate in training. It is good practice for that today.

We can see some of the names of the main contending teams. But Japan are

also well-rep resented in that leading team there.

Dessie, and many are experienced to do well here. But not so much of a

form line. The Ethiopians have held a marathon a month or two back as a

main selection for the race. The Kenyans are interesting. There was a

bunch of more famous names that could have perhaps been in the team.

But even without the big names, these are fast women running here.

In the middle there is Kipkoeche. And other improving athletes.

After a race that was won in Prague on the roads, they were talking

about making the 10,000 track team in Rio.

Some of them have not run a track race yet. There is a real mix in the

half marathon with the Mo Farahs of the world and Geoffrey Kamworor, the

World Cross Country championship. the world and Geoffrey Kamworor, the

makes it a really intriguing the world and Geoffrey Kamworor, the

There are a lot of athletes that can run and be outstanding and be top of

the world-class over the half marathon distance but Dons

transplant late it to the fulmar thon.

Some feel more comfortable over the half marathon distance. Then

dropping to do to 10,000m on the track is not so different. It is a

different surface but working more along the same lines. If you look at

Mo Farah, his potential over the marathon, probably isn't, going out

on a limb here but no, sir at close as it would be over the half

marathon. In the half marathon he is still very, very strong and tough to

beat. But there are weaknesses there to go up to the marathon. That is

ex-pented when he is world-class at 1500m.

ex-pented when he is world-class at If you are looking forward to seeing

Mo, you are now watching the women's race. If you watched the special

programme before this, if you want to get in touch and give us your

thoughts, do it via to get in touch and give us your

approaching the 5-K point. to get in touch and give us your

that the group is so big, it is not that fast. It looks decent enough.

One or two are starting to drop off. They do hit the 5K and then we can

see a more accurate judge of what is happening.

Just by the way that the field is gradually whittling down, nobody has

made a conscious surge but people are starting to drift off the back.

made a conscious surge but people Incidentally, the runner about to go

under the bridge in the white hat, the, Helen Taylor of the US, they

have selected their team from the marathon championships five or six

weeks ago. So a short turn around for them. I was chatting with Sarah

Hall at the press conference, to say how easy it was to turn around. She

was saying it was easier for her as she did not finish but they were

happy to see the conditions out on the course today,

happy to see the conditions out on race they were hot. They are happier

running the longer distances in conditions like this.

running the longer distances in Yes, Los Angeles was a tough trial.

running the longer distances in The Americans, you go to the trials,

that is it. Even in the marathon it is the top three. That is it. So,

the 5K, Paula says that they are running about 520 a pace.

It is not super fast but decent enough.

The group here have picked up the pace in the last half a mile. From

The group here have picked up the group of 235 athletes, it has now

whittled down to about 12. It does look as though there is a

slight incline there. It isn't significantly big but it is

obviously significant in the way that they are running up it. It is

big enough to cause a bit of shuffling in the second pack.

Allowing this group to move away. They are 16.31 through the 5K

marker. The Kenyans very much pushing in. The Ethiopians

sheltering on hind. There will be more of that sheltering going on as

we get into the windy sections. There on the

we get into the windy sections. drinks tables set out with the flags

by the countries, so that they know where table to go to in alphabet

call order running down. Not so many taking advantage of that. On the

tables, they are mostly bottles of water laid out. Not necessarily to

take on a lot of fuel over the half marathon distance. Most of

take on a lot of fuel over the half drinks bottles are for athletes who

have an eye on the marathon coming up and want to practice the

drinking. And in that lead group there, you

can see the leading Japanese athlete, Ando. She That is a

benchmark as we go through a few glitches here. There is water

getting into the works! Sorry, we are not able to bring the standings

at this point. But that big group, all of the Kenyan team, the

Ethiopian team, three or four members of the Japanese team and

Eloise Wellings. That is who she is having her eye

on, some of the Kenyans and some of the Japanese team. So welliness of

Australia is very much in there. And Tajeda is in that lead group as

well. A very good athlete, Elloise

Wellings. In good form in the championships in Beijing. Made it

through to the final. She has the range. The track speed helps when

you come into the half marathon. It can be a factor. You bring in good 5

and 10K P Bs. That is something that Sarah Hall was mentioning.

-- as Paula said, Sarah had dropped out. But now she has a chance to

target events like this. Yes, and Sarah is an athlete who has

recently made the step up into trying to achieve at the marathon.

The half marathon is a distance she is ranked higher at and more

comfortable racing over, moving from the 5,000 to 10,000m on the track.

She has adopted four young Ethiopian girls in the last year or so with

her husband. That has changed her preparation a little. They have been

based more in one place. I don't think that the family have come over

but if they are watching this, I wonder what team they are cheering

for? Well, talking of team, you saw the British team in currently 10th

place through the 5K. There is the Penarth area, the Pent art Marina

and the landscape of Cardiff that is very much changed over the years.

I'm not sure how much of the sights the athletes take in, as ever. At

the tend to see the tarmac in front of them, all that they see are

yellow or white lines. But some will have been out over the last few days

looking at the course, trying to familiarise themselves over certain

sections. If they know it is a flat course, or if there are hills they

may look at that. But you may want to look at the last the latter part

of the race. You might take the opportunity to

jog around or walk around the course beforehand. With the half marathon,

the athletes were offered a bus tour. But it was sitting cramped in

the bus the day before the race for over two hours. That was one that

they decided was better not to do that. They would take the

opportunity since it is not on this course, too far from the hotel to

make sure that they are familiar with the start portion and with the

finish portion as you say of the course. A lot of them would have

been going into nearby Bute Park to do the training runs to shake out

before the race. They will have had the opportunity to explore the area,

to ensure that they are familiar with twists and turns as they come

into that. You may have seen the four mile mark

being passed. About 21 minutes. Maintaining the

same sort of pace. If anything a tad slower. There was a water station

there. It is good to see the people out

supporting them. The rain has not come out yet. It was forecast for

right around 2.00pm. That is when the men's race is getting going. But

some protection from the houses. When they come out into the bay,

that is when they will face the worst of the windy conditions. But

goodness me the water looks still there.

Yes, I was looking at the trees by the side of the road as they were

running along that section. That section looks sheltered. The wind

does not look so bad. At the start of the race, the forecast was for

the conditions to be forecasting wind.

I think that the portion of this race where they will feel it the

most is as they run across the Barrage to Cardiff Bay.

They will try to save as much energy for that as possible, getting the

head down and run into the conditions.

And of course, the Barrage helps with the safe havens from the boats.

If you lived there, that is where you would have your boat? I think

Colin lives there. Yes, he does, our colleague, Colin

Jackson. He has been part of the programme getting people involved in

the event. The popularity of running right

around the world and running events. It does not seem to be abating at

all. I'm sure if many of you are out on a

park run this morning, despite the weather you are enjoying it. It was

a good day yesterday. Pity it could not have been carried through. But

for a lot of athletes, your experience is one that says, look,

whatever the conditions, you must come prepared. Even for the Kenyans

and the Ethiopians, although we go on saying that this could be

difficult, Mo is hoping that is the case. But these gays ray around the

world in all sorts of conditions. One of two even racing on New Year

on the roads. It was colder than. This They are not totally unfamiliar

to running in conditions that are not ideal.

to running in conditions that are When you are a

to running in conditions that are race strong and well in any

condition. It is more mental a factor.

The likes of Geoffrey Kamworor and Karoki are too strong to allow that

to factor for them. The change of conditions will not make a

difference. Where we have seen it make a difference in terms of

closing the gap between the European athletes and the Kenyan and the

Ethiopians is in World Cross Country, where it has been muddy and

snowy and in the junior teams where the inexperience shows in those

conditions. But the athletes in the senior races will be accustomed to

travelling in all types of conditions.

travelling in all types of Apologises for the technology and

the timing. We have seen Alyson Dixon. Not so far behind the leader.

Next was Charlotte Pardew, and then 30 seconds behind her was Spink and

Rachel Felton. Rachel Felton. So we will try to bring you updates but we

are having a few problems with receiving the times and the

positions of the athletes further down the field. We will do our best.

apologies for that, we are control of that element of the

broadcast here, so the pictures of the front of the race, we can see

what is happening further down, we tend to rely on getting the

information, all of the athletes where chips, the Peruvian athlete

now finding herself about 50 metres back from the group, so, yes, we

normally get the split times, but we will do our best to bring them

through to you as and when we will do our best to bring them

them. That was the five mile marker that they just run through, so that

last mile has picked up. She went through in 36.25, they will

last mile has picked up. She went increase as they go through the

sheltered area across the barrage. You can see that by how much the

field is starting to string out, the gap growing behind. Down now to just

field is starting to string out, the Kenyan and Ethiopians at the front,

the Japanese girls have been the victim of the increase

the Japanese girls have been the and are just dropping back down the

road behind as this comes down to 18 battle now between Kenny and

Ethiopia for the victory in the team race. -- down to 18 battle between

Kenny and Ethiopia. Mary Wacera looks comfortable. She is wearing a

different name on her vest. The Ethiopians looked like they are

starting to work hard. When there are only three Ethiopians left, as

they are at the moment, it becomes a bit more difficult for them to try

to control things, although Yalew is making a move on the outside.

Let's have a look now back at the start. About ten minutes before the

start of the mass race and the elite men's race, and, for us, as we look

down on Cardiff Castle, we know it is going to be a big, big day for a

familiar face, Mo Farah. Gold again! Simply sensational! How

are you feeling ahead of the world half of the? I'm excited to be back

in Cardiff, hopefully tomorrow will be a great race, it will be a tough

race but at the same time it will be exciting because you have got all

the guys who will be competing in Rio here, working as a team, so it's

important to dig in deep. At some point in the race it is going to get

tough, it will get hard, but if I can have that crowd and the home

support it will hopefully make a difference. Last week was the world

indoor athletics Championships. Why was it important for you to choose

this over being there, where you could have won another world title?

For me, home is home, the UK is home for me, it is where I grew up, where

I spent my childhood, it is my first home, and if I had a choice anywhere

else I would choose here to compete, which is why I am competing here. I

enjoyed supporting the GB team last weekend, it was important to cheer

for my team-mates. Looking forward to afford real, what are your plans

in between now and then? I'm quite excited about Rio, it would be nice

to do the double again but I will take it one step at a time, do this

race, compete, take a break and then 1st of June I will compete on the

track and then come back in Birmingham, 5th of June, complete

their, and then I think London. The focus is on the euro, working

upwards, ticking a few boxes to where you are. It is important that

you have done a good block of training and you race and Europe

testing yourself. -- and you are testing yourself. Geoffrey Kamworor

is a great athlete, he and Karoki will be up there with me. It was a

close race in Beijing, but he will push and push all the way. But it is

what I need, right? His best distance, he won the world cross

country, so what tactical battle do you expect in Cardiff? It will be

difficult, he is the favourite, he and Karoki are the favourites, which

is nice, sometimes, when you go in a race as favourite you feel you have

to win, but today is a little bit of pressure off so in a way I can just

go out there and see what I can come away with. But at the same time, in

my heart, of course I want to win, I would not be turning up if I didn't

want to win. Talking to David McDaid, and there

he is, right in the middle, staying warm. Mone leading the British team,

hoping today is his day. He knows it will be tough, though, and more of

that coming in a few minutes, he is about six or seven minutes away from

the start of his race. Meanwhile, the crowds out in force here at a

round 10k, an important part of the race because things have picked up,

and the Ethiopians have been trying to set the pace, mix things up a

little bit. Yalew in particular, just pushing things on. They have

dropped a couple of their own team-mates but putting a little bit

of pressure on the Kenyan quintet who are still all that, all five

Kenyan is still very much to the fore. They, I'm sure, will keep

picking up the pace and the group will get whittled down one by one.

As we have a great view looking down now, get ready for the start of the

mens rea is. -- the men's race. Mo Farah leading the British team, we

will go through the rest of the teams for you shortly. In terms of

team competitions, we are expecting Japan to do pretty well, but with no

rider there, when you get a fast time with one of your runners, you

never know. It will be difficult to get in amongst it, I would imagine,

in terms of medals, but top five, top six placing for the British team

would be a good result. The United States not as well represented as

they could be here. Let's have a look at some of the

main contenders, just to the left there I would say, perhaps the

prerace favourite here, Adola. Geoffrey Kamworor, the world cross

country champion, a huge talent on the roads. He knows how to win this

title as well. 58.54 his personal best. The nominal athlete, he will

test Mo Farah completely and utterly today. If you compare personal

bests, half marathon times have to be on certified wits, that is Mo's

official, though he has run faster in the Great North Run, that was his

official best -- certified routes. They done correctly, you heard Mo

Farah talking about him, it those guys two of the best Kenyan is

around, the best around on the roads. I don't think Eritrea will be

able to defend their title here at all. Then the rest of the British

contingent in a second. Let's get the race under way. Big crowds at

the start line, they don't have far to go until the finish but the

athletes have got 13.1 miles to go. Oh, a fall at the start,

Geoffrey Kamworor, one of the prerace favourites who fell right at

the start there, and that... I hope he is OK, horrible way for him to

start the defence of his title, and he is a long way back, because of

course what happens then is people are running over the top of you, you

cannot get on your feet, cannot get up, and he will have to try to find

his way through an awful lot of athletes, so right at the start of

his way through an awful lot of this world half than Mo Farah's

chances perhaps improved because the energy can Worra is going to have to

expend just to get back to the front -- Kamworor is going to have to

expend as to get back to the front will be detrimental to his chances

here. That is Karoki there, again with a different name on his best,

Muchiri. But that was terrible, Paula. Let's have a look. This is

not what you want to see at the start of the race, he slipped,

athletes falling on top of him, on his back, you can see some of the

guys around are trying to help him get up, begins and supper began,

that it took a long, long time there before he was up and running, and

you have to worry, the speed he went down, the 40 went down with, has he

done himself any injury damage their? -- the force with which he

went down. It will make it harder for him to make up the ground back

to the lead group. Ayele has realised that Kamworor is not there,

so he is trying to take advantage of it. It is a shame for the race as

well, around the world people were looking forward to Kamworor against

his team-mate, Karoki. But also against Mo Farah, the three of them

rejoining the battle we saw on the track last year, here on the roads

in Cardiff. Here we have Ayele stretching the lead group already,

which is not what we saw in the women's race, so that will not help

him either. And, well, Mo Farah looking around, it may well be

dawning on him what has happened, he certainly knows Jeffrey pretty well,

he will know he is not in that group, he will wonder why, perhaps

but to win two together. I saw Mo looking around about 30, 40 metres

after the start, he was aware something had happened and he may

well get a message from the British contingent out there. But, for the

time being... There he is, Kamworor. If he has got back to the start...

There he is, it was definitely him who fell, and he... He lost his hat!

Of course he lost his hat! It is incredible he

Of course he lost his hat! It is quickly, but I suppose that is what

you have to quickly, but I suppose that is what

do not have as long, of course, but you have to get back as quickly as

you can within reason, but expending as little energy as you can getting

back. Definitely him who falls. His first stride down, he just flipped.

I think somebody caught him. Caught him from behind there. Mo looking

around there. Even if you are him from behind there. Mo looking

you aware health who has gone down, the first ten, 20 metres, you are

looking the first ten, 20 metres, you are

who should be, and he will have quickly realised can Worra was not

there, but to win two together and realised he had

there, but to win two together and was not there. A little bit of a

boost for mode to realise that it was Kamworor that has fallen, but a

bit of a blow when Kamworor gets back to the pack that quickly and

settled down again in front of Mo, because he will see that that, yes,

it might have been him who has fallen but it does not seem to have

affected his race that much. The key when you fall like that is to make

it up as gradually and smoothly as possible so that you get back into

contact of quickly as you can but you don't expend too much energy

because you do, undoubtedly, when you fall like that, experienced a

surge in adrenaline that can make you do rash things and run to quip,

which don't want to do in the first mile of a half

marathon, you want to expend your energy gradually and keep a lid on

the levels of lactic acid in your body there and just be able to

gradually pull back. What he benefited from, Kamworor, what his

team-mates consciously trying to slow down the pace, so as much as

Ayele was, unusually for an Ethiopian, trying to lead

Ayele was, unusually for an in the opening stages and get it

moving along, the other athletes behind very much ran almost in

formation across the road, trying to keep the pack and the pace steady

until Kamworor was able to work What a start. We couldn't have

envisaged that. Whatever happens, it will be referred to the results. If

Geoffrey Kamworor were to come away with a win, it would be a phenomenal

performance from the Kenyan. So Mo Farah has settled down. After a

little crazy, in all respects, first kilometre.

The conditions are certainly deteriorating a little bit. But not

too bad. Given everything we were told. I think what Cardiff was

bracing itself for, so far, it is windy it is breezy and raining but

it's not quite apocalyptic. So, Ayele moving to the side. His time

in front may be up. This will be addressed. I know that Mo thought

that Whitehalled who happen was that Kiptoo could be asked to take it out

for Geoffrey Kamworor and Karaoke. It looks as though Kiptoo, well, he

is tracking Ayele stride for side but maybe Kiptoo may be the one to

head up front. Mo thought that they may sacrifice someone. But look how

it has gathered. It only works if the others go with

him. But not much point to push the pace

and keeping moving at a decent pace, if you are not going to go with

that. That is what we are seeing. The other runners are reluctant to

go with the quicker pace in the early stages. I was finding that

funny, the Ethiopian athlete trying to get away from the lead. It

funny, the Ethiopian athlete trying the Kenyan athlete, usually the

roles reverse, and the Ethiopians sit on the shoulders. And to the

women's race, Gudeta in front there. It has been the Ethiopians pushing

the pace and trying to hurt the Kenyans a little bit.

They have picked up a little bit. It is still a pace

They have picked up a little bit. It feeling is comfortable for most of

them here. The second 5K is quicker than the first. The pace looks like

it is being kept on. Gudeta maybe wanting to keep it on.

But Mary Wacera is there. Ngugi is there. And Cynthia Limo is

It is the next three or four miles. This is when the fatigue starts to

begin to creep in. You can't run even at this pace, although it is

well within the compass of most of the athletes but this is when you

will know if it is your day or no. the athletes but this is when you

If you are struggling, if this is comfortable, those thoughts will be

going through the head of these athletes now.

Back to the men's race. We can see somebody has decided that Kiptoo

will not be the only one and Bedan Karoki Muchiri has taken on the job

of working with Kiptoo. Straight away, Mo reacted to that. He

of working with Kiptoo. Straight almost running on his own. It is not

exactly no man's land. But he has recognised the danger here and moved

to could've it. -- cover it. This is swift.

This is quick. It is a world half marathon championship, with a great

field but look at these two. Mo Farah is slotting back into the

group, as you say, Paula but it is difficult for Mo. I don't think he

is expected to win the race. If it was flat out, if he were to beat

those two at the half marathon, they may as well all go home. Mo is

keeping his on on Geoffrey Kamworor. The question is, how much did the

fall and having to catch up, how much has that affected Geoffrey

Kamworor's ability to go quicker? That is the question.

The form guides coming from Kenya recently were that Karoki would be

the favourite coming into the event. He has been racing a bit, that is

the only down side to that. He raced recently. And did a double at 6,000

feet of altitude, running a 1500m in 342 and a 5,000m in 1348. So he is

in very good shape and recognises he is in that form right now. His best

bet to be able to walk away with this is to make it hard from the

start and take the race to Mo Farah. Now you can see the effect that

effort and surge is putting in and is having on the field.

So, Kenya well to the fore. is having on the field.

If you are watching our programme, Can Seb co- Save Athletics? That was

the programme on beforehand, I know we are happy to hear your comments.

A comment has been passed on: Ten year bans. Paying back all earnings,

prison time for drug-slying coaches. And make cheating properly

punishable. Those are the messages And make cheating properly

coming. Some of the penalties within athletics must sit in the overall

picture of WADA and the drug-testing regime but life bans and longer

bans, they need tougher penalties available and as you have said,

Paula, this is where a lot of athletes earn a lot of money on the

roads. They are not the household names, not the

track stars don't earn a lot of money. The big money in our sport is

in road running. Half marathons. 10Ks around the world. Many are

earning a lot of money. Those that are caught should be paying some of

that money back. Absolutely. I think that they should

be paying all of it back. That is a point we were trying to reach out to

race directors. To say, we cannot maybe legally get a lifetime ban in

the sport but we can make them pay back the prize money. I believe it

is an honour and a privilege back the prize money. I believe it

part in the sport it is not a basic right. You should not be allowed

back to the party until you have full paid back the money owed to

other athletes. And another tweet. This one has come

in from Marco. He says he is fighting a losing battle. He is

referring to Seb. He says that the sport is in denial.

I don't think it is. I think that Seb has been very well aware of the

issues. It is a very wide-ranging point to

make that the sport is in denial. I think that huge parts of our sport

really want to make big changes. Seb is well aware. The question is

towards the end of that programme, is that we make the point that the

sport has many different facets and not everyone agrees with the way

forward. He is coming up at some point transcendence within the

sport. There are opinions about how to go forward. He somehow has to

pull it under one umbrella and move quickly.

I agree. I don't think that the sport is in denial. The fact we are

facing up to the problems, and as many people are being caught and

action is taken, as in Russia and other countries in the future. If it

is faced up to. If you are fighting a losing battle, as so many of us in

athletics are, it is never a losing battle. A losing battle is

athletics are, it is never a losing back and not making the situation

better. That is not the case in athletics now.

And those are the men there. In the women the pace was very much picked

up. 48. 14 through 15 kilometres.

The news on the Brits through... At the previous checkpoint, Alyson

Dixon, the first of the British contingent going through 10K in 33.

36. In terms of contingent going through 10K in 33.

competition, Japan are doing well. They have had their three cop

runners inside of the top 14. So up-to-date with that quickly.

runners inside of the top 14. So America are not so far behind them.

That maybe interesting for the battle for the Bronze Medal

position. It is up and down with the men's race. They are approaching a

water station. A little bit of a rise here.

water station. A little bit of a Look at car OK yes. They are not

hanging around here. This is hard and brutal. And look at the rain. --

Karoki. A very good pace set at the men's

race, 14: 10. If Geoffrey Kamworor can run 59 minutes after falling

down at the start. He is a very, very good athlete. And the rest of

the British contingent in the men's race, there are the likes of Ryan

McLeod and Callum Hawkins with their eye on Olympic selection.

And the local buy, Dewi Griffiths. Running strongly, representing the

Welsh tonne ngency. I'm sure he will be getting a lot of support as he

races today. And the women's group. Kenya and

Ethiopia well to the fore. Alyson Dixon dropping back a little. She

did go off hard. 2. 5 minutes behind the lairds.

Ali will have thoughts very much on London. As we start to see this

group whittle down one by one. We said it would happen as the pace has

been picking up all of the time. Five athletes, the three best of the

Kenyans for my money are there. Two of the best of the Ethiopians.

It will not be a clean sweep. They had the sweep in Copenhagen but

certainly, they will want to be. I think it will be fast. I caught a

glimpse of the 10-mile marker about 51. 5 minute mark. That is a good

pace. I would say that is a sub-68

minutes. Maybe pushing down towards a 66-minute territory. That is

moving fast. You can see it by the damage that is

done further down the field, looking down the road.

Behind them I can't see athletes within sight of the leaders in the

race. Certainly they look comfortable. Look at how comfortable

Mary Wacera is looking with Ngugi too. A definite favourite today.

And the men at four miles. The pace maintained there. Look how

hard Mo Farah is working. The hat is off. He is struggling to stay with

the quick pace. Look at how many men are going with it. If Mo

concentrates, he will pick some off. If he ends up in not the top five or

six, he would be pretty disappointed. I'm not sure even Mo,

he said before, he goes into a race wanting to win. Then working out a

good result here. In a hard-run race, he knows that Geoffrey

Kamworor is good, that Karoki is good. But there are other athletes

he expects to beat. Yes. But it is early stages yet. Mo

is good at judging his pace. Not being afraid to back off if he can

close stronger. What he is doing is expending as little energy as

possible while maintaining contact with the lead group. To sit back a

little bit. Having spent time in. Kenya, there is a training session

where we have seen Karoki go to the front to push the pace hard,

stringing out the field and then dropping back the field. Is that him

going to the front once more again? That is a very, very hard way to

run, a euroing of the pace. When we spoke about Geoffrey

Kamworor falling, he would not want to do a euroing pace, it saps the

legs a little more. It to do a euroing pace, it saps the

sting out of the finishing speed. So Mo is doing a better job

sting out of the finishing speed. So his pace gradual. He will be trying

not to panic about the fact that there are so many guys up ahead of

him on the road. What helps is as they drop off that

group, one by one, they will inevitably do, some are running too

quick. Then, having people to pick off helps.

The women's race looks to have slowed here.

It is backing off the hard pace. That five kilometre section they

went through, that is low 66 running, no wonder they

went through, that is low 66 little bit, so back to the

Ethiopians with Yalew, we have got Mary Wacera on the left there.

Cynthia Limo, the young talent in the middle watching the Ethiopians,

letting them do the work to set the pace and waiting for the moment, it

has got to happen fairly soon, someone will have to break this up.

I think they will all have come into this with their race plans, you saw

Mary Wacera there, a glance over her shoulder, maybe checking how far

back she was, but more likely just checking the distance back to the

next athlete, because they will want to pick up the next point, they will

not want the athletes behind to be able to get back in touch with the

leading group. They are being slowed down by the lead vehicle, that is

not what you want to see. The down by the lead vehicle, that is

outriders and lead vehicle may be getting caught up with the crowds,

the athlete almost went into the back of them there. The road now

clear ahead of them, and clear in the men's race, Mo Farah at the

back. He looks pretty relaxed, in his face, which is good.

As you said, Paula, he has huge experience in terms of getting his

pace right, you will know what he is capable of from his training,

undergoing, as ever, preparing in Oregon. He was outlining in the

interview, if you were with us earlier, that he knows his track

plans, he will be in Birmingham at the Diamond league, and then of

course he will be back in London for the Diamond league in his last big

race before he heads off to reopen as well, so the preparation already

there, the plan is already there, and this part of his Rio plan to get

himself in the right shape. The pathos collapse -- the pace has

perhaps slowed a little at the front again. They are saying, come on, we

have got to keep this going, but it is what Mo was expecting. You can

see Karoki taking a look around, seeing how many of the runners are

there, how many have been damaged by the surge. It is speed play,

injection of pace running faster, then backing off slightly before

surging again. A yo-yoing of the pace which does damage but is also

an effective training tool, one that they use in the dirt roads to very,

very good effect. The rest of the British men through 5k, three more

to the fore, Griffiths 27th, McLeod 37th, Hinds 45th. Again, we will

update you as and when we get them. 37th, Hinds 45th. Again, we will

In the women's race, through 15 37th, Hinds 45th. Again, we will

we saw Aly Dixon, behind her Charlotte Purdue was 40th.

Approaching the hour mark, approaching the part of the race

where, if you want to win it, do you wait and see if you can outkicked

the others? Mary Wacera might be the favourite but more often than not we

go back to the old adage that a good Ethiopian always outkicked a good

Kenyan. I'm not sure that is always the case. And acknowledgement of

their of the click of the heels from Peres, very kindly pawning them --

their of the click of the heels from pointing out that there was a car

parked! They go alongside Roath Park lake. The rain seems to have abated

somewhat, thank goodness. When they get to the top of the road they will

turn and head back, there could be a breeze in their face over the last

few kilometres, the last two miles. They turned just before the 11 mile

point, actually they must have turned already judging by the clock.

I'm trying to work out, I can still see the water on the left-hand side

so I think they have to turn around and will be coming back down. Yes,

they are heading back down. They will have turned at 11 miles and

will be running back into the wind. The information from out on the

course is that the worst of the wind is between five and six miles, then

it is at their backs for a good stretch, which has been evidenced by

the speed that the women were able to run at in that section, just a

bit in their faces in the closing couple of miles. All

bit in their faces in the closing pace picks up as the first real

effort here, coming from the youngster who is having a great race

here and have had youngster who is having a great race

preparations leading into these championships.

preparations leading into these that shortly. Back in the men's

race, that group is getting smaller and smaller all the time.

it hurts! It is a big part of a lot of athletess preparations. Look at

that, the three Kenyan is forging on, putting big gaps between

themselves. They will on, putting big gaps between

this, they will think, this is working, this is giving us a big gap

over working, this is giving us a big gap

picking off those who drop off the pace, there is a group of three, he

has to get onto the back of that. They are passing through six miles,

not far from the ten Kate point. -- the 10k point. I am expecting them

to be about 28 point 15, maybe 28.20, maintaining the pace they set

through the 5k. Yes, a bit of confusion there with Karoki deciding

at the last moment to get his drinks but Bob. I did see Pam Worra has got

his, so maybe they will share that and he won't have to do without it

-- I did see Kamworor has got his. He should have maybe realised when

he saw the flags and tables lined up that he needed to think

he saw the flags and tables lined up picking up his bottle. Back to the

women's race, Kenyan tactics pushing the pace, it has paid off and it

looks like a Kenyan one, two, three in this race. Unusually it is Mary

looks like a Kenyan one, two, three Wacera who is struggling to hold on,

though she still looks comfortable, but looking good in her leg

turnover, legged pick-up at this stage. The look back that she will

not be going to the girls in front but is checking the danger of where

the competition for the bronze medal may come from.

I must say, I had written in my note about the youngster in front,

possible surprise winner. She ran fast, but Cynthia Limo is the

fastest, and she still has her to deal with here. She does not have to

worry about Mary one Sarah, she looks like she will have two keep

working hard for the medal and leave her two team-mate out in front of

her. Who of these two will be the quicker? 15.53, she has no track

pedigree. Cynthia Limo, not much either. The two of them not really

tested. But Limo has one big races, but Jepchirchir looks strong. She

does, but with the contest in -- contrast in style at the runners,

Jepchirchir rocking side to side and perhaps wasting a little bit of

energy there. Cynthia Limo is very metronomic, very little arm

movements to waste energy there. Certainly the more experienced

racing over the half marathon distance but it does not always come

down to experience, it comes down to who wants the victory more and who

has got that little bit more energy left in the legs as we get to the

closing stages. And the closing stages will determine the gold medal

here, Kenyan undoubtedly looking stages will determine the gold medal

a one, two, three, and heading that way as long as Mary Wacera does not

completely fall apart in the closing kilometre or so. But the front two,

who is going to win this? 22-year-old, rock 'n' roll style,

but looks strong from the waist down, a strong stride, but on the

other side Cynthia Limo, who knows she has a fast time, possibly

hinting about a sprint finish, pushing one and all of a sudden two,

three metre gap which looks like it might extend. Yes, that was a quick

opening of that gap, it is still a gap that could close, but certainly

it looked a little bit like maybe the elder team-mates made a bit of a

move, she does not want to leave it to come down to a sprint finish, she

may be fears the finish after Jechirchir, having said that, Paul's

alongside her. They are coming across a small crest, I would not

call it a big hill, but it will enable Limo to eke out a little bit

of a lead, which was quickly made up there. Jechirchir decided, no, I am

not going to give up, used to have a battle on your hands for the

victory. Amazing how the confidence can shift from one to the other,

Limo gets a few meters and thinks, I have got this, and suddenly the lead

disappears and Jechirchir says, I can win this. But the two of them in

the closing stages, it will come down to a sprint finish, Jechirchir,

22 years old, Limo, the sixth fastest marathon runner of all time

suddenly finding the sprint of the youngster, looking like it is a

winning one, opening to five, six, seven... Ten metres, look at her go!

Peris Jechirchir, this could be a new name, she said she wants to go

to Rio, but for the time being she will be able to celebrate a

brilliant win on the streets of Cardiff, Peris Jechirchir of Kenny

wins the world half and, QuickTime, as well. Cynthia Limo take the

silver, and it will be just about a Kenyan 123. But, goodness me, Peris

Jechirchir, look how surprised she is as we see the prerace favourite,

Mary one Sarah coming in for the bronze medal. -- Mary Wacera. She

could not hang on for the last two kilometres, but still a pretty

QuickTime, inside 68 minutes on a difficult day out there, but Kenyan

dominant one more. We wondered, didn't we, the effort, Paula, Limo

perhaps felt and sensed this youngster was going well, made the

effort with about 800 to go, and she was closed down, but what a finish

from Peris Jechirchir. Yes, I think what happened was that Limo showed

her fear by making the move, try to get away, she showed she was

frightened of Chris Reid, who was able to the real her back in and get

past her. -- frightened off Peris Jechirchir. And also I think

Jechirchir was looking at her watch to judge how far she had to go, and

it was only when somebody shouted how far she had to go that she

launched that finish and moved away pretty easily from Limo for the

victim. -- for the victory. There is Mo Farah, the leaders I would

estimate about 100 metres ahead of him at this point, maybe a tad less

than that, certainly nine, ten seconds at the very least. It is not

a sort of distance, depending on the athletes, that you can think, that

race is over, but when it contains Kamworor and Karoki and a couple of

the good Ethiopians in there as well, then you know that it is going

to be a tough day for Mo, but he will be hoping that one or two of

these have overcooked it a bit, not will be hoping that one or two of

those two, I don't think, but when they went through 10k, 27.59, you

would not be disappointed if you were running that on the track,

27.59 means the second 5k was very quick indeed, inside 14 minutes. And

that is fast. This is very fast running. I think if we looked down,

I'm not even sure what Mo's personal best is good that on the road, he

has not raced it best is good that on the road, he

guess it is fairly close to it. He is keeping relaxed, definitely not

out of this yet, don't underestimate Mo Farah and how well he can stay

focused on what he's doing, on his race in the middle stages, and just

work gradually away, moving closer and closer to this group if he can,

but these are two quality athletes, Kamworor and Karoki, with Tola as

well, but Kamworor and colicky have been able to work together and take

on the surge is one at a time -- Kamworor and callow key. It is

interesting, because all of these guys, including Mo Farah, are

running quicker than anyone would have expected, Mo has gone through

running quicker than anyone would 28.04 on 10k on the roads in a

running quicker than anyone would marathon, and, for him as well, this

running quicker than anyone would is a race where he is going to be

stepping a bit into unknown territory for himself, because

stepping a bit into unknown maintains that pace he is well on,

stepping a bit into unknown personal best. But it will hurt now,

it will be a test of his endurance, can he maintain this case, can he

get under 59 minutes, or close to 59 minutes, because that is the pace he

has set out at. Mo Farah does hold the European

record over the half marathon distance from Lisbon. Although he

has run quicker on the South Shields Great North Run course. But he has

not found himself to this point in a really fast from the start half

marathon but he has today. He could really fast from the start half

walk away from the race not getting a medal but having improved

Record. So that is what is going on at the

front. A little further back are the three

British racers. In terms of the first group, the

Kenyans and Ethiopians in the fore. And the Eritreans hoping to stayed

on the medal roast ram. Information in from the statistician

in Cardiff, is that Mo's 10K P B is 27.4. So not that far outside of it.

in Cardiff, is that Mo's 10K P B is So a very quick pace being set on

the streets of Cardiff. In spite of the streets of Cardiff. In spite of

settled somewhat. The wind is not quite as bad. Within

the streets and around the societalered

bad. Fast, fast running here. These two

guys at the front with Tamirat Tola trying to hang on. Two of the best

distance runners in the world. And they will have their observe

head-to-head. They have raced each other in the last 18 months.

Geoffrey Kamworor has won five races recently.

They know each other well. And Karoki has never lost a half

marathon. He is four for four wins over 2014, 2015. So that is

obviously a record that he isn't going to want to lose.

He has that experience. He has maybe the knack for judging

things right to get the victory. He has maybe the knack for judging

If I understand his preparations correctly, he is intending to run

the London Marathon as well. So a great indication of what

happens what is to come in London this year if we get a good day.

So two at the front for Kenya. They are pushing it on. Trying to

run Tamirat Tola out of it if they can.

Tamirat Tola himself is a trois marathon runner, he ran in Dubai.

He is with those two at the moment. Then a little gap.

Looking behind. Tamirat Tola, looking behind.

Think these two at the front obviously feeling things a little

bit. We keep coming back to the fact, if you have joined us

recently, the runner at the front, Geoffrey Kamworor, he fell at the

start. He had to pick himself up and somehow within a mile got into the

lead group. For me, Paula, he looks like he is working hard. He has that

grimace on his face. Even without falling this would be hard work. But

he fell, and the first mile was the equivalent of 4. 15. He would have

lost 10 to 15 seconds. You start a race with a 4. 15, you have to pay

for it surely? You have to. I would have liked to have had a go-pro to

see how he managed to make it up as fast as he did. He caught us by

surprise. If you were around the starting mile area, tell us how he

managed to make that gap up as quickly as he did. But without a

doubt it has to hurt. As does racing at this pace. But he is pushing this

on. A little while ago, they spread out across the road. Karoki was

right across the road looking to Geoffrey Kamworor for guidance. They

will have discussed the tactics before the race. There will be a

point that they reach, where it will be every man for himself, trying to

win the victory. But there, 13.41. It is the wind behind them. The

women did run a fast 5K split. I would guess that the wind has picked

up. But that is a very fast middle section of the race. No wonder that

Tamirat Tola has been able to stay with this. The gaps going back to Mo

Farah are growing. Paula, I hesitate to use the word

world best but these guys are operating quicker than ever.

Mo Farah is behind them but he has just broken the 15 kilometre record

on the road. If he doesn't know he was going fast, I don't think he

know what is the 15 K record is but he has just broken it, I am sure. He

is not to have expected that. 42. 39 was the previous best. He is well in

the low end of 42. It is coming up. 42. 03 officially. That is through

15 kilometres. He knocked 20 seconds off it.

Oh, Paula. If these guy, all of them, include Mo don't slow down, I

will be surprised. This is hard for Mo Farah. It is a tough, tough race

already. But he is running faster than he has ever done on the roads.

That must give him confidence. It is a long time since I have seen

Mo Farah hurting that much in a race. Probably back to the marathon

debut in London. Hurting in the middle of the race and pushing on.

But the pace he is running at, no wonder. You hope he has not been

able to look at the 5 kilometre split to get that information. He

will have seen the 15 kilometre. But had he seen that the guys have put

in a 5 kilometre split at that pace that must do damage. Even though he

is keeping that gap. It is about 100m. 22 seconds is not a far off.

It is not growing significantly. Mo will be able to start moving back

if he can keep concentration and not fatiguing too much.

The great Eritrean, Zersenay Tadese, he is not here but

The great Eritrean, Zersenay Tadese, fastest world marathon.

If they are to run here and continue at this pace, they are on that

record themselves. And Mo Farah at this pace, they are on that

himself, setting records on the road in Cardiff. He may slow down but

this has ban phenomenal from the man on the right, Geoffrey Kamworor.

This is what he expected. Ten miles! Well we may not get a

split. But that is phenomenal. That is, in a half marathon, you would

win ten mile road races anywhere in the world with those