The Briton, who won four wheelchair racing golds at London 2012, says his success at a home Paralympics was mentally draining.

"To win four golds at a home Games was a dream," he said.

"I had to reflect on what I had done.

"[There was] seven years of pressure for 2012 - I tried to give 100 per cent in 2013 but mentally I don't think I was right.

"I knew that would happen.

"The motivation to get up and go training every day - it was tough last year.

"It was intense mentally and physically, I needed a break."

Having taken time out last year, he returned to training in September and raced in the Great North Run in Great Britain that month.

He travelled to Australia in January, where he thwarted Kurt Fearnley's bid to win a tenth consecutive GIO Oz Day 10K championships in Sydney by half a second.

David Weir says he has got his desire back after winning four gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games ©Arsenal FC via Getty Images


"To take that win, on Australia Day, was great," said Weir.

"I've got my desire back."

Weir will be bidding for an unprecedented seventh win in the men's wheelchair race at April's London Marathon, having taken his first win in 2002.

He won three straight races from 2006 to 2008, and added to his haul in 2011 and 2012.

A seventh win will see him surpass countrywoman Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's six London Marathon wins in the women's wheelchair event.

But he says he's not feeling any extra pressure.

"I'm always confident in my ability," he said.

"But it's tough because you need to do the mileage.

"I've got a training camp in March in Portugal where there'll be a few things I'll work on - but I don't want to say what they are because they are my little secrets."

Weir won T54 gold in the 800 metres, 1,500m, 5,000m and marathon at London 2012.

He also won T54 gold in the 800m and 1,500m in Beijing 2008, and has a total of 10 Paralympic medals.

The Virgin Money London Marathon is on April 13.