Under the weather Weir wants seventh London win
Six-times Paralympic champion David Weir will have to overcome a chest infection to claim a record-breaking seventh wheelchair title at the 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday, 13 April.
The 34-year-old announced today that he has withdrawn from next week's Boston Marathon after a recent bout of illness to concentrate on winning back the London title he lost to Australia's Kurt Fearnley 12 months ago.
"I need to put all my efforts in to London. Every single bit of me will be on Sunday's race", he said.
Weir was disappointed to finish fifth last year, when he was still recovering from his ‘huge' and very successful 2012. He added a sixth London Marathon title that April before winning four Paralympic gold medals, including the marathon.
To follow such a great year, both physically and emotionally, was going to be difficult. Weir withdrew from the 2013 IPC World Championships in Lyon, and took some much needed time off.
"It was a good decision not to focus on much last year", he said. "It was nice to actually watch some athletics and not feel the pressure to win medals for the team."
Weir's winter preparation has gone well. Warm weather training in Australia and the Algarve has boosted his confidence.
"I've got my hunger back for training now. The next couple of years are busy ahead of Rio [the 2016 Paralympic Games]. I'm not retiring yet. Even if I don't win on Sunday, I'll keep going."
One of his rivals on Sunday will be his close friend, the Canadian Josh Cassidy. The 2010 winner has a new racing chair and has been adapting to it ahead of London. He too has been going through his paces in Australia.
"I've spent time re-adjusting and made some major changes to the new chair," said Cassidy. "I felt like a kid because it's been like switching from a three-wheeler to a two-wheeler. But it's all OK now and I'm ready for Sunday."
Last year's race was a tough experience for the 29-year-old. Cassidy dropped out after a collision with an elite runner. This year, he is keen to show his form again and put 2013 behind him.
Another challenger for the top spot is Marcel Hug from Switzerland. Fresh from a Paris Marathon triumph and 2013 New York victory, the 28-year-old has finished second three times in London, in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
Hug is IPC world champion over the distance and was second behind Weir in the London 2012 Paralympic Games marathon. He, like Weir, has a good sprint finish. So if Sunday's race ends up like many in previous years, with a group of racers breaking away from the field, Hug is likely to be among the leading pack down the finishing straight.
Ernst Van Dyk should also be one of the top contenders. He too has never claimed the London title. At 41, the South African is an established athlete over the long distance. Last year he was third in London but won in Chicago.
Under the weather, or not, Weir will need to be on his mettle to claim a much-coveted seventh victory.
