The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships take place in Cardiff tomorrow ©Getty Images

Britain’s Mo Farah believes tomorrow’s International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff will provide a taste of what is to come at this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Farah, the reigning Olympic and world champion over 5,000 and 10,000 metres, has predicted the men’s race will be “like a mini-Olympics” as he goes up against several competitors who will be aiming to deny him another title at Rio 2016.

Defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya, winner of the race at the 2014 event in Copenhagen, and Bedan Karoki are likely to be two of the main challengers during tomorrow’s competition in the Welsh capital.

“A World [Half Marathon] medal would be amazing,” Farah said.

"It's going to be like a mini Olympics because you have all the guys who'll be competing in Rio."

"The field is really strong - you have the Kenyan team I'm going to be competing against in Rio.

“It doesn't get much tougher than this.

“After a good block of training it's important you race and test yourself.

“In my heart I wouldn't be turning up if I didn't want to win."

Britain's Mo Farah is relishing taking on many of the athletes at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff who he will come up against at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games ©Getty Images
Britain's Mo Farah is relishing taking on many of the athletes at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff who he will come up against at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games ©Getty Images

The 33-year-old, who reasserted his dominance on the track with double gold at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, added that he expects a “tactical race” and that the weather may hamper any chances of a world record.

As well as individual men’s and women’s races, a team event will also be held, where the times of the top three runners will be added together, with the quickest declared the winner.

Eritrea’s men are the reigning team champions, while the women’s crown in 2014 was won by Kenya, whose squad included individual winner Gladys Cherono.

A total of 20,000 runners are due to compete at the event in Cardiff, with mass participation races planned alongside the elite-level competitions.

"The World Half Marathon should excite people into wanting to run,” IAAF President Sebastian Coe said.

“Cardiff has fully bought into the concept of running in the community - 20,000 runners will be lining up tomorrow, and 500 of those were offered places through Athletics for a Better World.

"We’re delighted to be playing our part in that.

"I’d also like to thank the public authorities, Cardiff University and the local organising committee.

"I know first-hand that a lot of hard work goes on in the background.”