Paula wins (photo: Victor Sailer)
17th April 2005
In her third London Marathon in four years, Paula Radcliffe notched up yet another victory, winning in a womens-only world best of 2:17:42.
It was a customary gun-to-tape front running effort, and even the pacemakers struggled to keep up with the fast pace. Falling behind after just five miles, Leah Malot and Restituta Joseph didn't come close to pace-making the first 13.1 miles of the race. Not that it would have changed much, of course. Paula was in a league of her own today and won the race by a clear five minutes over Romanian Constantina Dita, who set a national record of 2:22:49.
But this, her fifth international marathon victory, was not entirely plain-sailing. As Paula pulled up at the side of the road at mile 22, flashbacks of Athens began to replay in spectators' minds. However, Paula explained - and apologised - at the end of the race for what was a mere toilet stop.
"I think I need to apologise to the nation for having to stop like that but I was losing 10 seconds every time my stomach cramped up. I kept thinking 'do I have time to stop?' but then I had to stop. I was annoyed because I was feeling good. I went through the first half feeling great and thought I could run hard in the second half. It was a similar problem to Athens, but there was no danger of me being glycogen-defeated again. I knew if I stopped I would be able to get rid of the cramp and concentrate properly again."
Paula's half-way split was 68:27, some twenty seconds faster than the leading half-marathon time this year (belonging to Susan Chepkemei). The slowing in the second half was attributable to the stomach cramps, but she completed the last 13.1 miles in 69:15. Her finishing time of 2:17:42 bettered her previous womens-only world best by one minute and fourteen seconds. Although some way off her official world record of 2:15:25, she maintains that winning the race was the main aim today.
"It was about winning again. A lot of people thought that after what happened in Athens, I was never going to be the same again. My mind pushed my body as far as it would go in Athens but today my body felt good. Obviously I would have loved to have run a personal best but I have still run a fast time in the conditions."
Susan Chepkemei, who finished close to Paula in New York, was some way off the pace this time. She crossed the line in third place with a time of 2:24:00 while last year's winner, Margaret Okayo finished fifth in 2:25:22.
After the race, Paula thanked the enthusiastic crowd whose noise made her feel dizzy. Paula's win no doubt made the fans feel just as dizzy with excitement.
(NB - Click here to read over the commentary that was given on this site throughout the race.)
19th April 2005
Monte-Carlo - Paula Radcliffe regained her top spot in the Women's Road Running Event Rankings after comfortably winning the London Marathon in 2:17:42 (1406 points), the third fastest time ever by a woman. Not having recorded enough results in the past 365 days, Radcliffe had been unranked in recent months but with her win in London the Briton will now keep her average of 1336 points and stay in the Ranking at least until November 7th 2005. The World record holder also entered the Women's Overall Ranking in 34th place.
Full story:
IAAF - Radcliffe re-enters at top of Road Running in latest IAAF World Rankings
18th April 2005
Monday 18 th April 2005: Tesco, national sponsor of Cancer Research UK's Race For Life, has signed Paula Radcliffe to support this year's races with the aim of raising £23 million for the charity. Paula is not only one of Britain's most successful long distance female runners of all time, but her sheer determination has turned her into a role model for British women of all ages, making her the perfect ambassador for Tesco Race for Life.
Paula will take part in the first race in Battersea Park on 4 th May which is the first of 162 races throughout the UK, culminating in July. The events are based around a sponsored 5km (3.1 mile) walk or run and are targeted at women of all ages and fitness levels.
It is hoped that this year, 425,000 women will run, jog or walk 5km at the 162 venues across the UK from the 4 th May until 31 st July, raising £23 million for research into the prevention, treatment and cure of cancer. In the seven years to 2000, Cancer Research UK's Race For Life raised just over £20 million. Since becoming national sponsor in 2001, Tesco and Race For Life have raised £52.5 million.
Commenting, Paula Radcliffe, "Tesco's Race for Life is a fantastic opportunity for women of all ages and all fitness levels to raise money for Cancer Research UK. If more women can start exercising more regularly and eating more healthily, hopefully we will get one step nearer to reducing cancer cases."
Recent research has proved that around half of all cancers diagnosed in the UK could be prevented by changes to lifestyle and experts now believe that around a third of all cancer cases are linked to diet. Tesco has a huge selection of both fresh produce and healthy meal options, including the healthyliving range, that can form part of the preparation for Race for Life.
15th April 2005
As the media have gone in to a frenzy this week over world records and prize money, Paula's main focus for the London Marathon has remained the same. In the simplest of terms, she said "I just want to win."
With the women's-only world record set at 2:18:56 (Paula's winning time from 2002), a record-breaking performance could well be on the cards and with opposition of the highest calibre, the motivation for a solid performance is greater than ever before.
Paula's 30:45 clocking in her 10km tune-up race compares favourably with the other leading contenders who have also tested their legs over 10km in recent weeks. A couple weeks ago in Barcelona, Benita Johnson ran a PB of 31:38 over 10km. A week after that, Sonia O'Sullivan clocked 32:18 in San Juan. Although she finished second, she beat London Marathon rival Constantina Tomescu into fourth (33:25). Susan Chepkemei has also raced over 10km this year and recorded a time of 32:58 at the end of February.
Previous race results aside, Paula's training leading up to this weekend has been very smooth and relatively trouble-free. "My endurance is better than ever and my expectations are higher because I've worked very hard in training" Paula explained. "The home crowd will also definitely be an advantage. I can't see how it fails to give you a boost because it is just great support out there."
Most of Paula's preparation for Sunday's race was done in Albuquerque, and also included stints in Flagstaff and Limerick. Paula's diet plan has also altered to exclude gluten, so that the stomach problems that occurred in Athens do not resurface.
"I had to let my body recover," explained Paula. "Because of the damage I'd done to my stomach in Athens, I was advised to go on a strong dose of antibiotics and to go on the diet. It's helped a lot - I only wish I'd done it earlier."
David Bedford took into account Paula's build up to the London Marathon to help decide on the pace for the race. He settled on a 68:30 half-way target, to be headed by Leah Malot and Restituta Joseph. Other reports, however, have indicated that most of the other athletes will be aiming for a slightly more conservative half-way split.
"Pacemakers come and pacemakers go," said Paula. "But you have to stay focused on the race and what your competitive rivals are doing. I'm of the opinion that when I am running alone there is less pressure. You take more risks early on and so might actually run a faster time in perfect conditions. But this time I expect the other runners are going to go with me - they are trying to win the race too.
"I want to run as well as I can, enjoy it and win," added Paula. "Nothing else is important."
The Flora London Marathon will be broadcast live on the BBC 1 at 9.00am BST. For those who do not have access to BBC television, live updates will be provided on this website throughout the whole of the race. Also, for those who have not yet seen, we are celebrating Paula's participation in London this weekend with a contest in which you can win some signed gear. Be sure to enter!
11th April 2005
With the race day looming this weekend, all the waiting is almost over! After months of tough preparation Paula, along with many others of the world's elite, will soon be lining up to compete
in the 2005 Flora London Marathon on Sunday 17th April.
Although the race is being televised across a selection of world-wide channels, there
will still be many people who won't get to see any of the live action. So, to make up for that, this web site will be providing live updates
throughout the race!
The updates will mainly focus on the women's race and will provide split times where possible, but all the main events of the men's race will
also be given a mention. The coverage will start at 9.00am BST (1.00am PDT, 3.00am CDT) and will last approximately three hours, until the end
of the men's race.
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