Does Mo have what it takes to win

Yes.

To be an Olympic medallist, it takes guts and determination, but to be a four-time Olympic GOLD medallist, it takes something spectacular, and Sir Mo has that. He is able to put his body through gruelling tests beyond where most believe humanity is capable of going, day in and out. If he can push himself way beyond his comfort zone on the roads and the track, surely, he has what it takes to conquer whatever the castle may throw at him. Whether that be critters, fish guts, heights or confined spaces, nothing is as brutal as British cross country, and Mo has smashed that, so we think he can overcome the Welsh wilderness.

To be able to train consistently all year round, you have to possess an immense amount of persistence, which some may say leans towards obsession. You have to be able to stick with it when sessions or races don’t go to plan and accept this is simply part of the process. Alike the challenges of being a runner, Mo’s time in the castle will throw challenges his way which may not go hand in hand with his strengths. However, he knows how to push through the difficult times and flourish on the other side. His ‘never give up’ mentality and acceptance that there is ‘no easy mile’ is what gives him the determination to succeed. This is what will translate well into a trial environment, because nothing other than a full house of stars will be good enough. Whilst he may be faced with some of his biggest fears, he will give his all, whether it’s in an eating challenge, one with heights, or under water, to bring back as many stars as he can to the camp. In his first trial, we saw the lack of satisfaction with achieving nine stars, so I feel confident he will be determined to get all twelve next time.

No.

He may be an Olympian, but a dreary, damp castle in Wales guarantees one thing that Mo doesn’t like - the cold. As we saw at the Edinburgh Cross three years ago, and at the Euro Cross in Dublin, the cold has proven too much for the finely tuned athlete to handle in the past. Could this be his biggest barrier in the castle? Mo himself stated that he hates being cold and it even negatively effects his mood. He’s even said that he doesn’t run outside much in the winter and instead opts for training on the treadmill. Maybe the lack of luxury and warmth will push Mo well beyond his limits and cause him to crumble.

It isn’t just the cold that could test his limits. As all runners will understand, the biggest battle could be not being able to train for potentially four weeks. For someone who runs as many miles as some people spend commuting to work, the abrupt halt to training twice a day, most days, is undoubtedly like to mentally take its toll. Also, physically, how will he handle the thought of what fitness he may be losing whilst in the castle, especially with the Tokyo Olympics looming.

I am sure I speak for most runners out there, but we like our food. It isn’t just the process we enjoy, but the importance of food to fuel our training and the recovery process. Thus, how will a man, who is used to paying so much attention to his diet and ensuring he is well fuelled, cope with a lack of food? Will he find the hunger too much? Will his mood take a turn for the worse? Additionally, will he be able to cope with knowing the impact this could have on his training when he returns to the normal outside world? Alongside not being able to train, the lack of fuel available is likely to cause him to lose strength and muscle, making it harder for him to make a quick, injury-free return to running. Is this something that will play on his mind?

Whilst there are aspects of life in the castle that Mo might struggle with, Olympians aren’t just everyday people. They have a determination and desire to succeed greater than anyone can imagine. Plus, whilst food is limited, the rest he will be getting will give him that extra level of energy to smash the trials he undergoes.

Article by Hannah Irwin @hannahirwin_