Sir Mo Farah insisted his public fall-out with Haile Gebrselassie did not affect him despite finishing only fifth in the Virgin Money London Marathon.
Farah ended a week in which he was savaged by one distance running great by being blown away by another around the streets of the capital.
The four-time Olympic champion was bidding to win the London Marathon for the first time, but he could not live with the extraordinary Eliud Kipchoge who romped to a record fourth victory.
Farah's preparations were marred by Wednesday's explosive row with former distance star Gebrselassie over an alleged robbery in the hotel owned by the retired Ethiopian.
Gebrselassie, 46, responded to Farah's claims with an astonishing statement alleging "multiple reports of disgraceful conduct" by Farah and his entourage, which have been strenuously denied by the Briton.
Asked if the unwelcome headlines had been a distraction, the 36-year-old said: "Not at all. I stand by every word I said.
"It's all coming out now, there are a lot of people to prove that. What happened was the honest truth.
"I'm one of those people – I like to get it off my chest and just say it. It's become a bit too much but at the same time I stick by every word I said."
There was certainly no disgrace in finishing fifth in a time of two hours, five minutes and 39 seconds.
But talk of overhauling Kenyan Kipchoge proved fanciful from around the 14-mile mark, when the 34-year-old put his foot on the gas.
Farah, who finished third last year, tried to stay in contention but the pace proved too much.
"It was hard," he added. "I was running alone out there. I was just trying to push. At one point I thought I was closing that gap but somehow they got further and further away."
Kipchoge, winner in 2015, 2016 and last year, smashed his own course record in a time of two hours, two minutes and 37 seconds.
Already the world record holder, Kipchoge won in the second fastest time ever ahead of Ethiopians Mosinet Geremew and Mule Wasihun.
📺 What a performance from Brigid Kosgei Watch the Kenyan win the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon in a time of 2:18:20 Watch live on @BBCSport and @BBCOne#LondonMarathon #ThanksaBillion pic.twitter.com/6NPtYF6V8w — Virgin Money London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 28, 2019
In the women's race, Brigid Kosgei of Kenya went one better than last year with victory ahead of 2018 winner Vivian Cheruiyot.
Britain's Charlotte Purdue beat her personal best as she finished 10th.
David Weir's bid to win a ninth men's wheelchair race ended in disappointment.
The 39-year-old six-time Paralympic gold medallist, competing in his 20th London Marathon, finished fifth behind American winner Dan Romanchuk.
The women's wheelchair race was won by Manuela Schar of Switzerland for the second time.
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