Great South Run perfect for Radcliffe

Published on Friday 24 October 2008 21:59

PAULA Radcliffe believes tomorrow's 10-mile Great South Run will offer her the ideal preparation for pounding the streets of the Five Boroughs in the New York Marathon.

Radcliffe has shaken off the disappointment of failing to win a medal in the Olympic Games marathon and is looking to blow away the cobwebs in Portsmouth this weekend, seven days before she defends her New York title.

A stress fracture of her left femur meant Radcliffe lacked race fitness in Beijing but she now feels ready to be competitive. She will be racing over the 10-mile distance for the first time as a professional athlete and plans to run a quick race if conditions allow.

The 34-year-old will be in a field of 19,500 athletes for the Bupa-sponsored Portsmouth race and will have a strong rival in Kenyan Magdalene Mukunzi, who was a runner-up in the recent Great North Run.

"I just want to go out and have a really good run-out," said Radcliffe. "To be honest this week isn't about breaking records – it's about sharpening and tuning up for next week.

"But having said that I want to have a good blow-out. Success will be to win the race, feel good and blow out the cobwebs race-wise."