Paula Radcliffe in London, as she prepares for this weekend's marathon (© Getty Images)
London, UKPaula Radcliffe returns to the scene of her World Marathon record on Sunday (17 April) for the Flora London Marathon insisting she has not yet run her fastest time.
Radcliffe's 2:15:25 in 2003 was the highlight to date of a wonderful marathon career, but the Olympics in Athens last year was undoubtedly the low point of her whole life, and she admits she will never totally get over it.
But at least the mental scars have healed and she lines up as the overwhelming favourite (latest odds show her 1-2, Margaret Okayo 3-1, and Sun Yingjie and Susan Chepkemei 10-1) to win the London Marathon for the third time in as many outings. She made a winning Marathon debut of 2:18:56 and after a then World best of 2:17:18 in Chicago later that year returned to London for that stunning performamce in 2003, and now she wants to move closer to Ingrid Kristiansen's record four London wins.
She missed last year’s race to concentrate on the Olympic marathon - where sadly she dropped out due to a stomach upset - so is determined to be the darling of the British crowds once again.
Athens has made me tougher as a person
She was criticised in many quarters after her Athens disappointment but is ready to once again get people talking superlatives rather than dismissing her as lacking bottle.
Radcliffe says: "What happened in Athens has made me tougher as a person, and I guess as an athlete, and I now care less about people criticising me. I still like to try to please everyone but I realise I can't do that so I just do what I and those close to me feel is right.”
"Many people said I shouldn't have run the New York City Marathon so close to what happened in Athens, but I'm glad I did, and so are those around me. It helped to put Athens behind me, although I knew I wasn't in shape to be at my very best. The important thing is I was in shape to be competitive, and I won, so I think it was the right decision.”
"I'll probably never get totally over Athens, but I have put it in the past and I believe I can run faster than 2:15:25. I felt I was in shape to last year had I run in London, and I still believe I have my best days ahead of me.”
”Some people say you only have four top marathons in you, but I don't share that view. Yes, everyone has a figure but it varies from person to person. I've won four marathons and I hope to add to that tally on Sunday. Winning is the important thing, but I still feel I can run a fast time.”
Fast pace requested
She insists training has gone well, perhaps as well as when she took the world best to another level two years ago, and the ominous sign for her rivals is that she has asked for a fast pace.
Radcliffe has requested pacemakers Leah Malot and Restituta Joseph aim for a halfway split of 68:30, faster than any other athlete has asked for, and London organisers admit it may be difficult for the pacers to keep that pace going to halfway.
Former World Cross Country silver medallist Tim Hutchings, who looks after the elite field, says: “It is not easy getting sufficient pacemakers to run that pace because if you're in that shape you can probably run a 2:22 or 2:23 marathon and get paid more for that than you would by pacing.”
Record bonus on offer for “women’s only” race clocking
But to pick up the $125,000 bonus, Radcliffe only has to break the 2:18:56 she ran in London on her debut - three-and-a-half minutes slower than her best. That is because the bonus is being paid for a 'women's only' record, whereas she had male pacemakers in her two records in Chicago and
London 2003.
It seems strange having the prospect of picking up a bonus when you've run so much quicker, but it's not something she is thinking about. She said: "It's not an issue. I don't run for money, I race to win and that's what I'll be doing on Sunday.”
”It's difficult to compare my times this year to 2003 because it was so much windier this year, but as far as endurance is concerned I feel I am in as good shape.”
“Although I was beaten in the Crescent City 10km in New Orleans, I don't see it as a bad run. It's just that I had been training hard and didn't ease down. I could have run faster by easing down but it's the marathon that matters. My defeat certainly wasn't something that concerned me, although it was frustrating.”
Helsinki bound
Radcliffe was disappointed to miss the World Cross Country Championships, feeling they were just too close to London, but she has no intention of missing Helsinki this summer.
She said: "It is definitely in my plans, although I do not yet know whether I'll go for the 10,000m for marathon. Every marathon is different so I will just take a break after Sunday, see how I recover and then make a decision which event to run at the World Championships. I certainly feel I still have plenty to offer at the 10,000m.”
Bob Frank for the IAAF
