Scott Overall is running for redemption at this weekend’s Virgin Money London Marathon.
After already securing the Olympic qualifying time at last year’s Berlin Marathon, Overall needs to be in the top two British finishers to fulfil the selection criteria for Rio.
And he admits he’s driven on by the memories of his disappointing showing on his Olympic debut in London, when he finished 61st in a time that was nearly 12 minutes slower than his 2:10.55 personal best.
“This is what I’ve been thinking about for the last four years,” said Overall.
“I want to make Rio and produce a championship performance that’s worthy of my talent. I’d like to run well at Rio and forget about London 2012.
“My time in Berlin in 2011 came off the back of a track season and it’s taken a couple of years to realise that’s the best approach.
“I switched to a new coach (Alan Storey) two years ago and that has been another learning curve. I ran 2:13 in London last year and 2:11 in Berlin again, so it feels like I’m in good shape again.”
Overall is one of a dozen British men chasing Olympic selection on Sunday but only he and Callum Hawkins have banked the 2:14:00 'A' standard since the qualifying window opened.
“There’s going to be nerves when it’s such a big prize for the first two Brits,” said Hawkins.
“I don’t think anywhere near 2:14:00 will cut it. I think you’ll have to be much quicker than that. Anyone that thinks they can nip under 2:14:00 and be in the top two should be worried.”
Meanwhile, former European 10,000m silver medallist Chris Thompson is hoping he can pull off a surprise after two years to forget.
Thompson - who shares his coach with Overall - showed his promise over the marathon distance when he ran 2:11.19 on his debut two years ago but little has gone right since that performance.
“It’s been a really hard couple of years,” he said. “It’s been emotionally and physically draining and it was dispiriting.
“I’m just so happy to be here and I’m excited for this year as a whole. I want to go to Rio, I want to run the marathon, but I’m not going to be depressed on Sunday evening if I don’t make it."
Sportsbeat 2016