"I've never done the marathon before."

That's more than an exciting statement coming from Mo Farah, the 2012 gold medalist at 5,000 and 10,000 meters and one of the greatest distance runners ever.

Farah will make his 26.2 mile debut in April's London Marathon, according to the Independent. He's cautiously optimistic of his chances at the new distance, but believes he'll eventually be one of the world's best and is "excited" by the challenge of Wilson Kipsang's world record of 2:03:23 (4:42 pace).

"It just depends on the race," he told the Indendent. "It depends on what [race director] Dave Bedford does. It depends on the field. It's likely to be as hard as the World Championships or Olympics. It would be nice to go out there and do a first marathon and do well. But at the moment, I have to respect it. It will probably take me three or four times to get it right."

Alberto Salazar, Farah's coach since 2011 and one of the best running minds in the world, began Farah's winter training earlier than usual this year and challenged him to more miles than is typical of his athletes, according to the Independent.

"It's going all right"," Farah said of his 120 mile weeks, more volume than he'd been doing for the 5k and the 10k. As a result, the 30 year-old was "feeling more tired than ever."

Transitioning from the track to the marathon is less typical than it used to be now that many elite runners are following the money and heading straight to the roads. Surely, Farah's gold medals would have been tougher wins (or maybe even losses) if the track retained all of the world's talents.

Farah will also have to adjust to the distance biomechanically. Salazar, maybe the most scientifically forward distance coaches in the United States, has already begun adjusting his stride, according to the Independent.

Though men's marathon records are now set somewhat regularly and Farah has never been one to chase times, the back and forth surges of the distance and the overall emphasis on wins over times should favor a gritty competitor like Farah, who always seems to have just a little more than his competition.