'I take training seriously but Ramadan is more important'

A marathon training block is tough enough. Fasting while preparing to take on the world's best over 26.2 miles is harder still.

Mahamed Mahamed is among a talented generation of British male distance runners closing in on Mohamed Farah's national record over the marathon distance.

But, as he builds towards this year's London Marathon, the 28-year-old is currently finishing his sessions as late as 1am as he attempts to balance the demands of training at altitude with observing Ramadan.

Mahamed, fourth on the UK all-time list, has ignored advice to postpone his fasting while training to improve his personal best of two hours seven minutes and five seconds.

"Some people think I shouldn't [fast while training]," Mahamed told the Press Association.

"Especially now, because I've got a competition coming up, they think I should focus on training for now and then maybe fast.

"But I'm used to it. It became my routine. I am grateful for that advice but I just get on with everything."

Mahamed has based himself in the town of Ifrane in Morocco's Atlas Mountains as he builds towards April's race.

The location allows him to train safely under the floodlights of the track at night, alongside other Muslims currently observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan by not eating or drinking during daylight hours.

At their longest, Mahamed's days extend into the early hours of the morning. He will head out for his first session at around 4pm, then break his fast and attend mosque before completing a second session.

Once he is adequately refuelled, Mahamed will sleep for an hour or two and then wake for more food at about 4am, before returning to bed to top up on sleep.

"It's a little bit hard," Mahamed admitted.

"I take my job seriously, but Ramadan is the most important for me. It makes me focus as well. It makes me understand who I am and what I could do."

Mahamed is among four active British marathon runners to have clocked under 2:08, alongside triathlete Alex Yee, Emile Cairess and Philip Sesemann, in what he describes as a "new era" cohort.

Fourth at the 2024 London Marathon, he will target a personal best in London before chasing a European Championship medal in Birmingham this summer.