posted Oct 4, 2007

when i said that paula looked good for 2hr25 i wasnt intending to run her down, i think given how much time she has been out for that it would represent a good result. i think its unrealistic to expect her to instantly return to being the athlete that she was at her peak. but if she can run 2hr25 first time out that could put her on the road 2hr20 which is the sort of shape she'll need to be in to medal at the olympics.
imho

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posted Oct 4, 2007

The olympic A standard is 2.37.00 and we have 4 ladies that have passed that standard this year, Mara Yamauchi 2.25.41, hayley Haining 2.30.43, Liz Yelling 2.30.44, and tracey Morris 2.36.40. The B standard is 2.42 and we have Alice Braham at 2.41.08. Now Paula could and should quite easily pass the A standard so this could mean we have a team of 4 for the olympics and the team championship to.
Don't think money is Paulas motivation at this time as she receives top funding anyway, the determination she has shown nakes me think shes doing this marathon to prove she is the best in the world. Thankfully she's back.

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posted Oct 4, 2007

YEH

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posted Oct 8, 2007

Let 's hope that conditions are at least better than Chicago yesterday, heatwaves seem to be hitting marathons again this season!

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posted Oct 9, 2007

I think the UK standard is 2:31 not 2:37. Also don't think we can take 4 to the Olympics; there isn't a team competition.

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posted Oct 9, 2007

The A qualifying for the olympics is 2:37 for women and you can take your top three athletes if they pass under this standard in a qualifying event.

http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/standards/xml=beijing_2008/index.html

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posted Oct 10, 2007

To clarify. Yes, 2:37 is the Olympics 'A' standard but UK Athletics has chosen the tougher mark of 2:31.

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posted Oct 11, 2007

Paula is a genuine athlete and works hard for and deserves all her success. She personifies everything that is good about running.
Good Luck Paula

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posted Nov 3, 2007

Paula Radcliffe, despite her ability, is a nauseating, spoilt, over-indulged, over-paid, narcissitic, infantile BORE. Ask anyone who's ever worked or trained with her.

My hope is that she'll be thrashed tomorrow, retire and disappear.

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