CALLUM HAWKINS admits he will just be happy to be back racing on Monday after collapsing at last month’s Commonwealth Games.
The Brit races for the first time since falling to the ground while leading the Commonwealth marathon when he takes on Mo Farah in the Vitality London 10,000.
Hawkins was on course for victory on the Gold Coast, Australia when, overcome by the heat, he fell over just two kilometres from the finish line.
He said: “I feel a lot better now I have had some rest since returning from Australia and I’m looking forward to getting out there and competing again. It’s good to get back.
“I started training two weeks after I got back but it was still pretty limited. I’m not up to full training yet.
“My aim in London is really just to get back racing. I’m not expecting anything, a time, a position.
“It’s just about jumping back on the horse.
“I’m throwing myself in the deep end a bit but I’m doing the thing I love which is racing.”
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Four time Olympic champion Farah himself complained of being tired despite winning the Great Manchester 10k in 28:27 eight days ago – his first race since he finished third at the London Marathon last month when he smashed the British record.
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Hawkins said: “Running a marathon takes a lot out of you and it can take a while to get back into it.
“But I think he’s in slightly better nick than me!
“He’s always got his sprint kick but you never know, especially after he raced last week as well.
“One of the hardest things about the recovery for me is whether it is just the effects of a marathon or me collapsing. It’s hard to know which is which.
“The forecast for the race is for it to be quite warm so I will take slightly extra precautions, maybe with pacing. Hopefully it won’t affect me too much as it’s a l0k.
“I didn’t feel too much at the time physically as I was numb and blacking out. But mentally it’s frustrating as I was in the lead.
“I feel like it was a big opportunity missed. I was certainly in a position to win gold.
“Maybe if I had known I was as far ahead as as I was I might have taken my foot off the gas but you can only say that in hindsight.
“The main thing is I was okay but as an athlete I feel it is an opportunity missed.
“I’ve got to wait four years to redeem myself at the next Commonwealths and what happened on the Gold Coast is not the way I want to be remembered.”
Hawkins, who finished fourth in the marathon at last summer’s World Championships in London and ninth at the Rio Olympics, ran a 10km personal best of 29:00.03 in February.
Farah’s 10km personal best is a 27:44 which he ran on the London 10,000 course in 2010 and he will be going for his sixth victory in this event.
Hawkins finished third and five seconds behind Farah when they last lined up against each other over a half-marathon in London in March.
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