Sir Mo Farah struggled with cramp but retained his Vitality Big Half crown

Sir Mo Farah clutched his stomach as he chased leaders Bashir Abdi and Daniel Wanjiru

Sir Mo Farah defeated stomach spasms and extreme conditions to win the Vitality Big Half in London for a second time on Sunday.

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Around four miles into the half-long distance race, the four-time Olympic victor quickly grasped his stomach as he pursued the leading runners Bashir Abdi and Daniel Wanjiru.

At a certain point, Farah trailed by more than 20metres, having dug deep he clawed them back in to win in 61min 15sec, a second clear of Abdi and Wanjiru, the 2017 London Marathon champ who was third.

The race was Farah’s fundamental planning for the London Marathon, when he will confront world-record holder Eliud Kipchoge.

‘The conditions were tough because of the wind and rain but I got the job done,’ said Farah. ‘Training has gone well but I was a bit sluggish early on.

‘It wasn’t a stitch, it was more like cramp and I didn’t know why. I had to dig in and just get through it, which I did. I didn’t feel tired which is a good sign going forward.’

‘I know I can mix it with those guys for sure,’ he said. Farah will fly out to Ethiopia later this week to prep for the London marathon