[scottishdude]

I am sick and tired of all the media cover on Paula Radcliffe's failures taking away from other athletes success'. She is the reigning world record holder for women's marathon which is great. She was sadly unwell in the Athens Olympics and, IMO should never have competed in these Olympics due to having a stress fracture. She would have been better leaving it and aiming for 2012.
Well done to Mara Yamauchi for getting 6th and was less mentioned than Paula.

[dynamick]

Originally Posted by scottishdude

I am sick and tired of all the media cover on Paula Radcliffe's failures taking away from other athletes success'. She is the reigning world record holder for women's marathon which is great. She was sadly unwell in the Athens Olympics and, IMO should never have competed in these Olympics due to having a stress fracture. She would have been better leaving it and aiming for 2012.
Well done to Mara Yamauchi for getting 6th and was less mentioned than Paula.

I'll agree with you that Mara Yamauchi should have got more coverage than she did - finishing 6th in the womens marathon is an awesome achievement. Although her preparations and training were amazing - she didn't win a medal and unless there's a story behind someone or a history - the press aren't interested.

I guess Paula Radcliffe gets so much coverage because she has an army of fans and admires, because she is the world record holder for the womens marathon and (as you point out) she was injured and probably shouldn't have run.

The point is....she did. Give her some respect for the weeks of endless pain she's put herself through - I hope that she inspires others like she inspires me.
I can associate in a way why Paul Radcliffe ran - she had everyone wanting her to run, because her fans and the public expected her to be there...to maybe pull off something spectacular and go down in history.

I run...I'm just a very average amateur...but I run - my motivation is different - I run to raise money for my charity - www.johneastwoodmemorialfund.com . I actually ran a race when I was injured - ended up tearing my calf after the first 1km of a 10km race....but I carried on so I could justify the sponsorship and belief others had put in me. I had to pull out of the Sheffield Half Marathon last year because my doctor said if I ran it...I might not run anymore!....I cried my eyes out...just like Paula!

I guess Paula Radcliffe did it for personal glory or to bury the ghosts of olympics past...or more accurately - she did it because she believed in her ability and so did others. All we see is 26.2 miles - look beyond that, she could have quit 3 months ago but she didn't! - she's got more heart than I'll ever have.

Mick x

[CorkerSWFC]

Originally Posted by scottishdude

I am sick and tired of all the media cover on Paula Radcliffe's failures taking away from other athletes success'. She is the reigning world record holder for women's marathon which is great. She was sadly unwell in the Athens Olympics and, IMO should never have competed in these Olympics due to having a stress fracture. She would have been better leaving it and aiming for 2012.
Well done to Mara Yamauchi for getting 6th and was less mentioned than Paula.

Paula Radcliffe is past her best she was 4 years ago.

[RVP57]

I personally am just tired of Paula Radcliffe. Yes I 'admire' her for 'doing it', but the fact is, she just can't, and has sadly proven it. Paula Radcliffe is no more a winner than Dunkirk was a victory.

[robS35]

Originally Posted by scottishdude

I am sick and tired of all the media cover on Paula Radcliffe's failures taking away from other athletes success'. She is the reigning world record holder for women's marathon which is great. She was sadly unwell in the Athens Olympics and, IMO should never have competed in these Olympics due to having a stress fracture. She would have been better leaving it and aiming for 2012.
Well done to Mara Yamauchi for getting 6th and was less mentioned than Paula.

Have to agree with you, watcing the news yesterday you would never had known that we had a 6th place finisher in the marathon. All they where intrested in was how Radcliffe finished way down in what was it 26th place or something.

[john t]

Agreed, i think the expectation's of Paula where far too much for her to bear.
So was sort of forced to run, i don't think it's time for her to hang up her running shoes as such. But maybe to take time out and take stock, get well over her injury, and come back a better runner for it.!

Also, for our 6th place athlete....Well done, our joint highest fininisher in an Olypic marathon.!

jt

[robS35]

I also found it intresting that one of our track & field athletes had to do a time trial to prove their fitness. I wonder if the British Olympic people would have asked Radcliffe to prove her fitness. Clearly not.

[Heyesey]

Originally Posted by robS35

I also found it intresting that one of our track & field athletes had to do a time trial to prove their fitness. I wonder if the British Olympic people would have asked Radcliffe to prove her fitness. Clearly not.

The difference perhaps being that, even unfit, Radcliffe still finished higher than any other athlete (bar the two that were there anyway) were ever likely to do.