Double world, Olympic and European champion talks after breaking the European best for the two-mile event in Birmingham

Double world, Olympic and European champion Mo Farah marked his twin daughters’ second birthday by breaking Steve Ovett’s almost 36-year-old British record over two miles at Sunday’s Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix.

Fresh from his European 5000m and 10,000m victories, Farah was back on the track in his homeland and left the field at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium in his wake, crossing the line in 8:07.85 seconds to eclipse the 8:13.51 Ovett ran in London in 1978 as well as the European best.

Later Farah revealed how he planned to celebrate his feat on a bouncy castle alongside his daughters Aisha and Amani, before hoping to end another extraordinary year with victory at next month’s Bupa Great North Run.

This record hopefully will stay,” he said. It’s my girls’ birthday today, so that will mean a lot to me. They’ve just turned two so it’s nice to think ‘daddy broke the record that day’.

We’re having a bouncy castle tomorrow at St Mary’s. I should be alright to go on it, just don’t tell Alberto (Salazar, his coach).

I’m still thinking about the Great North Run, so you can’t ease down,” he added. “It would be nice to end the year with another win and then I can rest a little bit.

Alberto got me trained for the two-mile and said go out there and try and win, see what you can do. Early on I felt a bit tired and then as I got into it I felt better and better, so I kept looking at the clock and thought ‘you can do it, you can do it’.”

Next year defending his 5000m and 10,000m world titles in Beijing is Farah’s big priority.

And despite having little room in his trophy cabinet for more honours, the 31-year-old is adamant he will never get tired of what he does.

I want to be able to continue and achieve medals for my country and hopefully if I can get to another Olympics it would be amazing in my career,” he added.

I love athletics, I love what I do. I don’t see it as a job. That’s what keeps me motivated and sometimes getting beaten or ill makes you want it more.

Sometimes when you’re at the top it’s harder. When you go through struggles and not got what you wanted you are more determined, you want it more.”

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