European Athletics (EAA) – News – Marathon man Tambwe out to show he’s back to his best in Daegu

France's Patrick Tambwe, Europe's fastest marathon runner in 2012, will head east in search of a fast time and with a point to prove when he runs in the Daegu International Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, on 14 April.

Now 37, Tambwe ran 2:07:30 in the Tiberias Marathon in January last year to be the fastest man in the world who wasn't from Kenya or Ethiopia. It also made him the 12th fastest European ever over the classic distance.

The race in Korea will be Tambwe's first outing over any distance since the London 2012 Olympic Games marathon last summer.

Tambwe failed to finish in London, pulling out at 18km when back in around 50th place, after standing on the start line with ambitions of finishing in the top 10.

He paid the price at the Olympics for losing three weeks training in June and July last year.

"I lost a loved uncle who died in May (2012), and I had to organise the funeral, everything. I stopped eating as I should and, at the same time, I continued to train hard. I depleted my reserves and this is why a doctor then advised that I should three weeks off," Tambwe explained at the time.

Another top French marathon runner Abdellatif Meftah, will also be seeking to redeem himself in the Paris Marathon this Sunday after also failing to finish at the Olympic Games.

Meftah, dropped out just after 25km in London, but has shown good form in several road races at the end of last year and the start of 2013.

As well as being one of Europe's fastest ever men over a half marathon, having run a French record of 60:46 in 2010. Meftah has a marathon best of 2:09:46 from 2011 and will be looking to improve on that time in the French capital on Sunday.

European Athletics (EAA) – News