In reply to Indy:
She's an athlete.. selfishness is what makes her so good, 100% dedication, she knows her body, she knew she could run 2:15, noone has been near her. Very few marathons are won under 2:20..
I had a hamstring issue before last years world champs.. there was no chance in the world I was letting anyone in the GB camp know.. I was pretty sure I'd be OK and managed to get a nerve freed up which let my stride get back to normal. But yeah I'd worked for a good few years towards that and I was going to be totally selfish.. Olympics come around much less, I'd
Even half fit she's better than anyone else we had, she was our only chance of a medal. That is how GB work. They don't send people to fill a race.
Look at the UK all times list.. she is a country mile better than anyone.. almost a minute/mile..
Aye, she cried when she had a bad race.. shoot her for it… FFS
Mentioning Beijing highlights your ignorance. She ran 2:32.. she wasn't last in the GB team, it was won in 2:26… Hayley Haining was a 2:30 marathoner.. she wasn't a medal contender. That was 2:29 in London.. not in Beijing where most people run slower in championships due to tactical racing, plus massive humidity at Beijing on race day.. In November 2008, 3 months after the olympics, Radcliffe ran 2:23 and won in NY while Haining ran 2:35.. Radcliffe had won major marathons.
Beijing was 88% humdity, there was very little chance Haining would have ran sub 2:35 there.. the only realistic shot was Radlcliffe. Yelling was 5 minutes slower than London. Mara was the closest.
MARATHON - I think these are out of date as Mara has ran quicker.. but shows how much Paula was ahead of her peers...
2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe (ENG) 17.12.73 1 London 13 Apr 2003
2:17:18 1 Chicago IL, USA 13 Oct 2002
2:17:42 1 London 17 Apr 2005
2:18:56 1 London 14 Apr 2002
2:20:57 1 Helsinki, FIN 14 Aug 2005
2:23:10 1 New York NY, USA 7 Nov 2004
2:25:13 Mara Yamauchi (ENG) 13.08.73 6 London 23 Apr 2006
2:27:38 5 Tokyo, JPN 20 Nov 2005
2:25:56 Véronique Marot (ENG<FRA) 16.09.55 1 London 23 Apr 1989
2:28:04 5 Chicago IL, USA 20 Oct 1985
2:30:15 3 London 10 May 1987
2:30:16 1 Houston TX, USA 15 Jan 1989
2:30:55 1 Houston TX, USA 20 Jan 1991
2:26:51 Priscilla Welch (ENG) 22.11.44 2 London 10 May 1987
2:28:54 6 Los Angeles CA, USA 5 Aug 1984
2:30:06 2 London 13 May 1984
2:30:17 1 New York NY, USA 1 Nov 1987
2:30:48 4 Hopkinton-Boston MA, USA 18 Apr 1988
2:26:52 Liz McColgan (SCO) 24.05.64 2 London 13 Apr 1997
2:26:54 2 London 26 Apr 1998
2:27:32 1 New York NY, USA 3 Nov 1991
2:27:38 1 Tokyo, JPN 15 Nov 1992
2:27:54 1 London 21 Apr 1996
2:29:37 3 London 18 Apr 1993
2:30:32 7 Tokyo, JPN 19 Nov 1995
2:30:50 3 Tokyo, JPN 17 Nov 1996
2:28:06 Sarah Rowell (ENG) 19.11.62 2 London 21 Apr 1985
2:28:38 Sally-Ann Hales (ENG>SCO) 17.07.61 3 London 21 Apr 1985
2:28:39 Kathy Butler (SCO<CAN) 22.10.73 9 Chicago IL, USA 22 Oct 2006
2:30:01 7 Chicago IL, USA 9 Oct 2005
2:28:42 Marian Sutton (ENG) 7.10.63 7 Chicago IL, USA 24 Oct 1999
2:29:03 1 Chicago IL, USA 19 Oct 1997
2:30:41 1 Chicago IL, USA 20 Oct 1996
2:29:29 Sally Eastall (ENG) 5.01.63 1 Folsom-Sacramento CA, USA 8 Dec 1991 10
2:29:43 Joyce Smith (ENG) 26.10.37 1 London 9 May 1982
2:29:57 1 London 29 Mar 1981
2:30:27 1 Tokyo, JPN 16 Nov 1980
2:29:47 Paula Fudge (ENG) 30.03.52 3 Chicago IL, USA 30 Oct 1988