Andrew Lemoncello has pulled out of his planned marathon comeback in Japan this weekend, writes Mark Woods.
The 30-year-old Scot was left so drained emotionally as a result of his successful world record attempt last month that he no longer feels able to compete.
The athlete, who has missed most of the past two seasons due to injury, was scheduled to have a crack at earning the qualifying time for next summer's European Championships by running in Sunday's marathon in Fukuoka. However, the event comes just five weeks after Lemoncello set a new mark for the half-marathon on a treadmill and raised over £25,000 for Down's Syndrome research.
The Olympian - whose daughter has the condition - has admitted that his efforts took a greater toll than he anticipated. "I was so emotionally invested in it and I hadn't taken into account how much that would tire me out so I've called it a season," he said.
Lemoncello will likely need to break two hours and 15 minutes to earn a spot in the Great Britain team for Zurich, while he will also need to chase a 10,000 metres standard to get into Scotland's team for the Commonwealth Games. "Hopefully, if I can get enough fitness by then. If not I'll wait until the summer."
Steph Twell has been spared a similar internal dispute since she has secured her place in the GB team at last weekend's trials in Liverpool ahead of next month's European cross-country championships. "I would love to get in the top 10 individually if I can," she said. "I felt really good at Liverpool."
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