Radcliffe intends to compete in Olympic marathon

Published on Monday 4 August 2008 13:06

PAULA Radcliffe has confirmed she intends to race in the Olympic Games women's marathon on August 17.

The British gold medal hope insisted she will run providing she avoids a setback in her recovery from her thigh injury.

"I'm racing unless my leg breaks down," said Radcliffe, 34, who had looked destined to miss out on her fourth consecutive Olympics when an MRI scan in May revealed a stress fracture in her left thigh.

The marathon world record holder has defied medical opinion so far and linked up with the British squad at their Macau training base today.

Radcliffe will now begin the last few steps towards realising her ambition of an Olympic gold, her main remaining goal in a highly successful athletics career.

"The aim has always been to start the race. Everyday I go out and plan to start the race," Radcliffe said.

"The whole thing has been a race against time and a nightmare from when it was diagnosed.

"I'm getting more and more confident because every day you run more on it and it gets stronger."

The 34-year-old admitted, however, she was unsure over her medal chances in Beijing.

"I feel good. I feel happier even to be at this stage. It's impossible to judge shape," she added.

"I know from the stuff that I've done that I'm in good enough shape to be on the start line.

"I don't know but I guess I'm probably not in 2:12 shape but I think if you put yourself on the start line, you're in with a chance.

"It's just the fact that because I've not been running huge amounts with full body weight outside on it, they (Team GB) don't know if it will get me there."