posted Mar 4, 2008

I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but I just can't see her winning in Beijing. There are so many serious threats (Wami, Ndereba, the Japanese and in particular the Chinese) that it would be a marvellous achievement to win a medal of any colour. Of course, the incredibly knowledgeable British sports media (taking a short break from the Great God Football) will crucify her for winning "only" silver.

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posted Mar 4, 2008

She cant win it...


They are so many athelets who prepare only for the olympics peak only for the Olympics..

So if she gets passed by an unknown athelete from Burundi or Haiti, dont be shocked if she does a kevin Keegan (QUIT)

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posted Mar 4, 2008

There are so many elements to running a marathon, and it only takes one to be slightly out for it to go wrong. If she stays injuy free however then she's pretty good at turning up in peak condition, and if everything is right on the day then she has the ability to win by minutes. I will not be surprised however if a relatively unknown Chinese athlete is there or there abouts, by fair means or foul.

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posted Mar 4, 2008

Theres so many variables for the Beijing marathon it would be foolish to make any predictions. The conditions might have any kind of effect on any athlete and there is also the danger of those atletes we know about, and those we don't. In particular, you can be sure there will be several chinese athletes running very competetively. We might not have heard of them but they will have been built up for it and will be meticulously prepared on the course.

Still, like has been stated, I'm sure Radcliffe will give it her all and will do her utmost to get that medal she craves so highly.

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posted Mar 4, 2008

I am sure tht Radcliffe will be as prepared as possible.
However without knowing the opposition and just what effect the humidty, heat and air pollution will have it would take a brave person to suggest she will win.

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posted Mar 5, 2008

I would echo most people in saying that it is impossible to predict Beijing. But I think she has a good enough chance as any.

I wouldn't write her off for London. 38 is not a ridiculous age for a marathoner, wouldn't put it past her.

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posted Mar 6, 2008

to historyinthemaking...no, the last time I ran London was in 1983! (I have medals from the first three London marathons which I'm expecting to fetch a good valuiation on Antiques roadshow one day). After that I made the mistake of getting married, having children and getting a permanent job, which I find interferes seriously with one's training. My admiration for Paula running with a baby (metaphorically) on her arm is only increased by that experience...

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posted Mar 6, 2008

I agree that 38 is not too old - Carlos Lopez won Olympic gold at a similar age. It also depends though whether anyone else emerges in the next four years who can run consistently at sub 2:20 level and so raise the bar again as Paula has done (if raising the bar in the marathon isn't too much of a mixed metaphor). Whether Paula wins Beijing or not, she has dominated her event for last five years in a way that only other greats like Ed Moses, Bubka, Gebreselsassie and Kluft have done in theirs, and I don't think its unreasonable to put her in that category, but an Olympic Gold would settle it.

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posted Mar 8, 2008

yerfdog,

I'm sorry, but to put Radcliffe in the same category as Moses, Bubka and alike is a joke. Paula has done very well at an event that people only run a couple of times a year. When it has counted, when a medal is on the line, she has come up far short. If she was to win this summer I might change my mind, but I doubt she will.

The tough conditions are good for tough runners? 2004 showed that she wasn't tough enough.

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posted Mar 11, 2008

Great though Radcliffe still is, I'm afraid I believe winning gold in 2012 is a fanciful notion. She has run 8 and won 7 incredibly punishing marathons already. Add to that the years of punishing mileage. By contrast, Carlos Lopes win in LA came after only one completed marathon.
I'm afraid there's only so much the body will take - even for Paula.

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