Emile Cairess: Great Britain’s marathon star bids for history at World Athletics Championships

Competition for a marathon medal is fierce, with 10 men on the World Championships entry list having run under 2:06 this year.

It has been more than a year since Cairess’ last marathon after an ankle tendon injury prevented him from starring in London this year, and he admits the event “feels a bit new again”.

His preparation for Tokyo has not been without issue, either. Bouts of illness and an infected insect bite which required a course of antibiotics have forced periods of reduced training.

But, described as relentless by training partner Phil Sesemann, Cairess has still averaged above 120 miles per week over recent months.

He is coached by the esteemed Renato Canova, who has developed numerous global medallists, after Cairess – a long-time student of the Italian’s methods – seized his opportunity to impress in a chance roadside encounter in Kenya.

“[Canova] has a pretty good idea of what I’m capable of and he gives me a lot of confidence because he’s coached athletes that have been that good,” adds Cairess.

“He’s definitely confident in me and I’m hoping that I can do what we both think I can do [in Tokyo].”

Cairess prefers to keep the exact details of what that might be between them.

However, he intends to enjoy his post-championships travels around Japan – which are likely to incorporate his love of Pokemon – with a medal among his possessions.

“[A medal is] my goal, or one of my goals, for the race,” Cairess confirms.

“On the track you have the reference of people racing week in, week out, but in the marathon maybe some people haven’t raced at all in the build up and it’s more difficult to predict.

“I’m looking towards the future to see what I can do. I want to do the best I can [in Tokyo], but it’s another step towards learning the marathon and being the marathon runner that I think I can be.”