Favourite forgoes forecasts

Catherina McKiernan declined to make any predictions about her performance in next Sunday's London marathon during a fleeting…

Catherina McKiernan declined to make any predictions about her performance in next Sunday's London marathon during a fleeting visit to the city yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference she said: "There is a weight of expectation on me and it would be easy to add to that by forecasting that I'm going to win. So the safest thing is to say little.

"I've run only one marathon and although it went to plan for me in Berlin, I may not be so lucky second time around."

Neither would she comment on the new world record of two hours 20 minutes 47 seconds set by Kenya's Tegla Loroupe at Rotterdam last Sunday.

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"Fair dues to Loroupe but the thought of a world record has not entered my head," she said. "A lot of things can happen in a marathon. Only the man above knows . . . "

McKiernan is an even-money favourite with the bookmakers to win the event with Liz McColgan at 11 to 4. Last year's winner Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya is quoted at 4 to 1.

McKiernan is to return home from Britain as the last stage of her preparation. She said that the days spent at home would help her stay cool in the run-up to the event and also allow her to relax prior to the big day.

"I would rather be in my own environment," she said, "If I was here (London) all week, I'd just be thinking about it too much. I just hope to do well, a lot of things can happen in a race. I will run as relaxed as possible for as long as I can. You do your best and that's it."