Paula Radcliffe runs in the New York Marathon this Sunday.

It's only 11 weeks since her disaster in Athens and many people think it is too soon to be running a race of such magnitude.

How will Paula react?

It is believed that she is receiving an appearance fee of £275,000 for taking part in the race.

If she wants to run, she should run. Its just sport, and it is her proffession.

As ever the media has to make out someone is either the greatest thing ever when they are winning, or a national disgrace when they don't live up to their earlier good results.

Athletes should run for themselves, the public only have a right to feel let down if public money has supported them (they generally get lottery funding - if you don't like it don't play the lottery)

No wonder she's all smiles and looking forward to it now she's getting paid. I'll bet you she doesn't drop out of this one.

I'd hop the race on one leg for 275k. Anyone know what the bookies are saying for the race?

Well, wouldn't you believe it. Back with a bang. Well Done Paula.

Yes, absolutely!!

I'm so pleased she won. A big F*** You to all those who were slaggin her off after Athens.

Well Done!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Mat:)

mm..Isn't it great how she was so brave and came back!?!..what a load of ********.
She's a total fraud and doesn't deserve the recognition she gets. Do you think she'll repay the National Lottery and the public for providing her with the funding to train for the Olympics out of her £275k???.

Those last 2 points are a brilliant example of what I was saying about either having to believe someone is the greates thing ever or the biggest villain in the world.

Yes, she did well to win yesterday but it doesn't mean that any criticism of what she did in Athens is wrong. I'm sure she is more disappointed than anyone that she didn't win the olympics, and winning yesterday will far from make up for Athens.

Like I said, she is a proffessional athlete when she wins it is good for her, when she loses it is bad for her. The "Great British Public" don't come into it anywhere.

Originally posted by Yodameister
Those last 2 points are a brilliant example of what I was saying about either having to believe someone is the greates thing ever or the biggest villain in the world.

Yes, she did well to win yesterday but it doesn't mean that any criticism of what she did in Athens is wrong. I'm sure she is more disappointed than anyone that she didn't win the olympics, and winning yesterday will far from make up for Athens.

Like I said, she is a proffessional athlete when she wins it is good for her, when she loses it is bad for her. The "Great British Public" don't come into it anywhere.

They do when our contribution to Lottery Funding pays for her training.
Fair enough..if she wants to run professionally then she can pay for it out of her own pocket and she shouldn't be allowed to run in the Olympics representing Great Britain. She can represent Paula Radcliffe and thats it. She doesn't deserve to be called brave or heroic and recieve the media attention she no doubt will. Its amazing what £275k does for your attitude to racing.

I agree with the points about the Lottery. To say professional Runners shouldn't be in the olympics - that debate was finished a good few years ago and whether you like it or not they are. (I find the whole concept of international sport increasingly bizarre, but thats just me - I can't quite explain why I think that, I'm not quite sure myself!)

I don't play the lottery because I don't agree with state sponsored gambling, and I don't agree with the fact that they pay for things that should be paid through tax. I think paying for fatuous things like international sport is something the lottery should pay for, because you can decide if you want to play the lottery or not, and yuo can't decide whether to pay Tax (unless you are very rich and can afford big shot lawyers and accountants!)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=14846315&method=full&siteid=50143&headline=ill-jane-s-ironman-triumph-name_page.html ........... this lady is a real hero. The courage and guts which she has shown are incomparable with Paula R.

Unlike Paula she is not a prima donna. What she achieves through her efforts are for the good of others.

It's amazing what a sports person can do when they have a chance of winning £1million that's what the commentator said she had won for coming first,mind you the heat in Greece may have been a factor.

Originally posted by Yodameister
I agree with the points about the Lottery. To say professional Runners shouldn't be in the olympics - that debate was finished a good few years ago and whether you like it or not they are. (I find the whole concept of international sport increasingly bizarre, but thats just me - I can't quite explain why I think that, I'm not quite sure myself!)

I don't play the lottery because I don't agree with state sponsored gambling, and I don't agree with the fact that they pay for things that should be paid through tax. I think paying for fatuous things like international sport is something the lottery should pay for, because you can decide if you want to play the lottery or not, and yuo can't decide whether to pay Tax (unless you are very rich and can afford big shot lawyers and accountants!)

Don't get me wrong..the whole professionals in the Olympics isn't an issue and I am all for lottery funding to worthwhile sports projects and training etc etc. What gets my goat is when people are portrayed incorrectly as heroes or brave. Fair enough if Paula Radcliffe wants to runs the New York marathon and rake in the money but lets not get carried away with what she is..motivated by cash. For me that goes against the spirit of the Olympics. What she did in New York should make a 30 second slot on the news and thats it. I will scream if she ends up nominated as BBC Sports Personality of the Year..for what??

Why do you think she may be named Sports Personality of the Year? I agree that if she was then you might as well scrap the thing, but I don't think its very likely is it?

Dunno who else might win it though. Could be Matthew Pinsent, god help us, not another rower! He probably deserves it though, considering the other 3 guys in the boat were just average and they probably would have struggled to make the final without him.

Back to Paula R and her ability to run marathons, she can clearly deliver the goods, as she's proven on numerous occaisons.

However, dare I suggest that the 'big match' psychological atmosphere that surrounds an Olympic final is the real problem? Fear of success is a common problem - it's a form of lack of confidence that many people suffer from, not just world class athletes.

Perhaps her psychological preparation for the Olympics was the aspect of her 'game' that was really at fault. If that's teh case then she can train to try and deal with that problem and win in the future. If she can't handle it, doesn't matter how much training she does when push comes to shove her state of mind will decide the result.

I wish her luck!

Joe

Originally posted by wibbles
No wonder she's all smiles and looking forward to it now she's getting paid. I'll bet you she doesn't drop out of this one.

If she'd won gold(s) in Athens, she'd be worth a lot more.

She can relax now and hopefully get a good meal down her much needed neck. I recommend Grimsby haddock, chips and peas.

Paula is NOT a hero by any means...

I absolutely cant stand it when people are sucking up to the woman.

She is a supposed professional athlete and trains exceptionally hard to run in these races- so why was she not prepared enough for the olympics??
********--- she's not a hero!

Now Kelly Holmes is a TRUE BRIT HERO... she did not quit at the olympics and she brought home the gold- which Paula should have done.

Jane Tomlinson- is also a hero for very different reasons however.

I used to detest the woman for doing so much when she should be enjoying every last moment with her family-- I was damn wrong... If it was up to me.. Jane would be going with the UK team to the next olympics carrying our flag proudly into the arena-- someone who is terminally ill and still has the strength to raise money for charities is a true hero to me in my opinion.

We need more hero's like Jane..
TRUE BRIT!