You guys first really got to know each other when you started living in the same house in London in 2006. Did you become friends straight away?Mo Farah (MF): Yes, I think it was because we are a similar age and he’s very humble. We have a lot in common, although he supports (Man) United and I support Arsenal.
Micah Kogo (MK): The language was a slight problem because at that time my English was not so good. He spoke very fast English, so I kept saying, ‘What! Can you please speak more slowly?’ To help Mo fit in we all spoke English in the house on a daily basis.
MF: They would watch a video and talk in English…the likes of John Kibowen (former world short course cross-country champion) and Benjamin Limo (former world 5000m champion) lived in that house and they were a big influence. They helped me settle in.
Did Mo adapt easily into the house?
MK: Yes, he adapted easily.
MF: The hardest thing was getting up early and going for a 6am run. When the music started and someone would put on a cassette (of Kenyan music) I knew I had to get up. After the run I would come back and then have breakfast and a sleep for an hour. Now it is just normal, but it took a while to get into that routine. Before then I wouldn’t have got up any earlier than 8.30am or 9am.
Mo, did you start eating Ugali (a staple maize dish eaten by all the top Kenyan athletes) in the house?
MF: Yes, and we would all make beef stew and the Ugali together. Micah can eat meat freely, he loves beef. He must eat beef almost daily. He loves that!
MK: When I eat rice or something light and then run for 1:20 I feel so hungry. I like heavy food.
What are your main cultural differences?
MF: When they (the Kenyans) first come to England they couldn’t believe people would not say hello in the street. In Kenya everyone shakes your hand, invites you into their home and gives you a cup of tea. If these guys win any money it goes straight back to their families, whereas over here it is every man for himself.
Mo, what are the main qualities you learned with living with Micah and the Kenyans?
MF: My background as a Somalian (Mo was born in Somalia and left to live in England aged nine) helped me understand them and appreciate their culture. They never complain about what they don’t have, these guys are amazing. When I was in the house and saw how hard these guys trained I thought that I needed to change if I was going to get anywhere. I might be talented but talent isn’t going to get you anywhere unless you work hard for it, too.
Micah, have you learn much from living with Mo?
MK: For me, he has taught me some exercises this year when he trained in Kenya – some drills and how to keep your head up (when you sprint). He teaches us how to be more responsible about exercises. I’ve learned a lot of things from Mo, so it’s been good fun. He is also a serious man to go training with he has a very good attitude.
You mentioned you support different Premier League teams. Do you watch the football together?
MF: Yes, we have a bit of banter about supporting the different teams. Last season we went to Sunderland v Arsenal while we were up at Great North Run weekend. We sat in the (corporate) box.
MK: It was amazing because it was my first time to see football live. And when I went to Kenya, I showed everyone the scarf I was given.
If both of you could have a quality that the other possesses in athletics what would it be?
MF: He’s just got that pace whereby he is able to increase, increase, increase and before you know it the other guys are struggling, He always looks smooth. This guy has speed as well because he has out sprinted (Bernard) Lagat (the world 1500m and 5000m champion). Micah just knows about pace and can feel it – and I would love to have more of that.
MK: He knows in his head when to sprint and he also has a nice sprinting technique with a high knee action. This is something I’m still working on. Mo has so many qualities.
As good friends is it difficult to compete against each other?
MF: It is not a problem because when we start the race I don’t think about whether Micah’s my friend - that goes out of the window and we give it 100 per cent. If he wins or I win that’s good and I’ll say well done, but I think that’s the kind of people we are.
MK: I would say the same. There is one cross-country we ran in Dunkirk and on the last lap Mo started to kick off and won the race in a close sprint. But afterwards I say well done to Mo. But when we are competing we don’t think about friendship.
mzungo.org says: Thank you spikesmag.com for a great interview!
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