Paula Radcliffe not giving up on Olympic marathon dream
16/04/2012
Paula Radcliffe is not throwing in the towel in her bid to win Olympic marathon gold in London just yet, despite recording her worst ever half-marathon time at the weekend.
Radcliffe was competing in a special handicap challenge event with Haile Gebrselassie in Austria in which she had a seven-minute start, but was easily beaten and crossed the line in a time of 1:12:03.
The runner has been ill recently with bronchitis and pleurisy, but did not blame this for her performance, stating: "I am at a loss to explain why it was quite so bad. I still would have expected and hoped for a time in the 69s."
Fans booking London 2012 hospitality packages may wish to be in the Olympic Stadium on the day when the women's marathon is held, as it is also the date when the men's 100 metres final takes place.
Radcliffe pulled up during the 2004 marathon in Athens after being ill before the race and had her preparations for Beijing four years ago hampered by a fracture.
By Sam Smith
