Paula Radcliffe announces her plans for London Marathon farewell
Women’s marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe has spoken of her plans ahead of her farewell appearance at the 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon. The 41-year-old athletics legend, who won the London Marathon on three occasions between 2002 and 2005, was speaking at the Virgin Money London Marathon’s annual lunch event at Michel Roux Jr’s restaurant, Roux at Parliament Square, on Friday before flying out to Kenya for a training camp.
She said: “I’m full of excitement and lots of gratitude to the London Marathon for giving me the opportunity to come back and do my last one here.
"It means so much to be running the London Marathon again, because it's an event I have grown up with. For me, it goes right back to when I was watching it as a kid, seeing Joyce Smith win, watching my dad run, seeing Ingrid Kristiansen break the world record.
"I made a pact with my dad back then that I would run it one day with him. I didn't manage to do that, but I have such special memories from 2002, 2003 and 2005. Then it was so frustrating all those years when I couldn't do it because I was injured. So I really appreciate the chance to come and do it one more time."
Radcliffe’s time of 2:15:25 in the 2003 race remains the women’s world record by some distance, and her time two years later of 2:17:42 is a world record for a women’s only event. The average time of her three London victories is still faster than any other woman has ever run. As well as her London achievements, she also won the marathon at the 2005 world championships in Helsinki, and gold over 5,000m at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Radcliffe will make her final London appearance on Sunday 26 April when two star-studded line-ups compete for the men’s and women’s titles. Radcliffe, who has endured years of injuries, most recently to her left foot, will not run with the women’s elite field, however, but start with the British championship runners immediately after the elite men.
"I definitely haven't got the same running mechanics as I once had, so I can't run as fast as I once did, but I am always a competitive person and I want to do it as fast as I can," she said. "It's not about aiming for a time, it's more about being able to run pain free and doing my best effort on the day. I want to do one more just to see what I can do with my foot, and to relive all those memories.
“I want to end my career looking back and knowing that I achieved the best I was capable of. Generally, I can do that and certainly I can with my performances in the London Marathon.
“After this year’s race, my aim is to keep running but just for enjoyment, and to run as long as I can.”
This year’s Virgin Money London Marathon marks the 35th anniversary of the event, which was first held on 29 March 1981.
The women’s elite field is one of the strongest ever assembled with reigning champion Edna Kiplagat taking on Mary Keitany, the fastest woman since Radcliffe, half-marathon world-record holder Florence Kiplagat and 2012 Olympic silver medallist Priscah Jeptoo.
The men’s field includes reigning champion and course-record holder Wilson Kipsang, world-record holder Dennis Kimetto, track legend Kenenisa Bekele, 2011 London Marathon winner Emmanuel Mutai and last year’s runner-up Stanley Biwott.
The Virgin Money London Marathon is just over 11 weeks away and now is the time for all those taking part to gradually increase the mileage. For help with your training check out our Training and Advice section or ask our Training Wizard to set your programme a week at a time.