Mo Farah would be crazy to go for double gold at the Commonwealth Games this summer, according to Steve Cram.
Farah, the two-time Olympic champion, is still licking his wounds after finishing eighth in the London Marathon on Sunday and has pledged to take his time to decide whether to compete in Glasgow.
Once recovered, Farah will confer with his coach Alberto Salazar to plan out his track season, yet he could opt instead to focus on defending his European 5000 and 10000 metres title in Zurich in August.
Cram, who did the European/Commonwealth double in 1982 before repeating the feat four years later, believes the Londoner must guard against burnout. "It's not hard if you're an 800 and 1500m runner, " claimed the former world champion on a visit to Anytime Leisure. "It is hard if you're a 5000 and 10,000m runner. I'd expect all our 800 and 1500 people to do both. [With] the 5 and 10, you have to be a bit smart. You can't run two marathons in three weeks. Even two 10,000m will be hard.
"You could do a 5 and 10, perhaps, but it's not easy. Paula Radcliffe in 2002 did the 10,000m at the Europeans and 5000m at the Commonwealths, so that's an option, but you certainly wouldn't double up in both."
It has been confirmed Farah will compete on the second day of July's Diamond League meeting at Hampden Park, with the 100m, which could feature Usain Bolt, slated for Friday's opening session.
Meanwhile, Andrew Butchart believes the strength of the field in today's Mt Sac Invitational in California can spur him to land Scotland's 1500m qualifying mark for Glasgow. The Perthshire-based runner will face Kris Gauson in the meeting with the pair among several Scots who have travelled to the USA in search of Commonwealth standards.
"With my pb at 3.44, I do think it is possible," Butchart said. "With Chris O'Hare already selected and the likes of David Bishop and Kris Gauson in there as well, it will be very tough to make the selection but, at the moment, I'm just looking to try to make the time and see if that is enough. You have to give it a go."
The Scottish record holder Jax Thoirs will face his chief rival Gregor Maclean in the pole vault while Sarah Benson bids for the required mark in the 3000m steeplechase.
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