Radcliffe enters 10,000m

[CHAPPERS]

Has she said anything positive about the runners who were able to finish or was the whole race pointless because she didn't win.

Did any of the other people who didn't finish do that?

Doubt it.

Fact is that she was built up to win so much so that SHE even thought that she just had to turn up to win. She is not invincible as lots of people thought she was (maybe including herself) and when she dropped out people immediatly suggested that this was because she couldn't win, not the fact that she was mentally and physically exhausted. She then comes out to explain herself and APOLOGISE for her performance to people like you who cannot understand what she is trying to say to you, the fact that she can't work out herself what went wrong.

 

[Eastleigh Seagull]

I think the fact that Gebrselassie wouldn't even consider running a marathon in Athens says a lot.

That he thought he couldnt win it? That he had a better chance of winning the 10,000? He didnt like the scenery?

 

[Wozza]

Isn't anyone prepared to see that she may have been incapable of taking another step at that point?

The conditions weren't good for her or other Europeans, but she was clearly capable of carrying on physically - doctors gave her the all-clear soon afterwards.

The problem was mental - she couldn't cope with failure. It can't be a coincidence that she quit as soon as she dropped out of the medals.

Anyway, let's hope she does the 10K - and wins it.

 

[CAFC Matt]

I feel she really does have to win gold as she has got a few questions to answer in the press and will only get on her back again.

 

[CHAPPERS]

That he thought he couldnt win it?

No. That he wouldn't do it because he thought it was too hot.

 

[Yorkie]

That he thought he couldnt win it? That he had a better chance of winning the 10,000? He didnt like the scenery?

Most marathons are run in the spring because of the conditions needed. They are usually on flat ground with an occasional hill.

The Marathon to Athens run is mostly uphill and Athens is renowned for very poor air quality especially in summer. That is apart from the heat.
We visit there regularly and Ned has to make sure he has enough ventolin to last.

I just like to see the best in people and I am not so cynical as most of you here I suppose.

 

[Icy Gull]

She then comes out to explain herself and APOLOGISE for her performance to people like you who cannot understand what she is trying to say to you,

I'd much rather she'd kept her mouth shut, you may have wanted an explanation and an apology but I just saw her as another British athlete who was overhyped. No apology needed.

 

[METALMICKY]

I dont think anyone whinged at Paula, they were just sick of all the media circus surrounding her after she QUIT the marathon cos she knew she wouldnt win!

Thank you, wise words amidst all the sentimental crap! The UK media were an utter disgrace and it could be argued that their attitude supports the "oh well we took part eh? that afflicts to many of our sports people.

Bottom line is that she QUIT and in defence of Paula herself she has not offered up the myriad of excuses that have been proffered on her behalf. Lets not aslo forget that two vastly inferiot GB athletes still managed to complete the race.

Having said all this i'd love her to win the 10,000 but i wonder whether mentally she is shot.

Don't get me started on Darren Campbell! How the feck can you run at all with a legitimate torn hamstring?

 

[Eastleigh Seagull]

but it always come back to the same two points:

The conditions were hardly a surprise to anyone.

The conditions were the same for everyone.

For a world class athlete who has worked towards this one race for a number of years utilising world class facilities and coaches she should have done better.

I certainly hope that she enters the 10,000m after all what has she got to lose. But I cant quite understand why she wont commit to it though - surely the indecision cant help in the preparation.

Now if she said that she stopped the marathon because she knew she wasnt going to get a medal and didnt want to completely exhaust herself and therefore drop out of the 10,000 then I think she would get a more sympathetic hearing.

 

[Brovion]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Radcliffe enters 10,000m

no what is that all about? one minute he' storn a hamstring (which means he couldn't run) next he's better, then he's "struggling". i think he's covering for being crap..maybe?

Yeah did you hear Michael Johnson on the BBC? He all but called Campbell a liar. He basically said even if you get a 'slight tear' in a hamstgring you're out for six weeks.

Getting back to Paula I'm not sure if I want her to run or not. I hope she doesn't feel she has to run to answer her critics as she's on a bit of a hiding to nothing. On the day, for whatever reason, she wasn't good enough to win the Olympic Marathon. If she was totally physically and emotionally drained by the effort then trying to run 10,000 metres less than a week later doesn't sound like a good idea.

 

[Yorkie]

The other two athletes finished because they took it at a slower pace and weren't pushing for a medal.

Because she pushed herself and made the effort it proved too much for her at that particular time.


Btw the though occurs to me - the time when Knight was criticised for having a poor game and was called inert or inept....

he was sickening for tonsilitus at the time. You can have something wrong with you that doesn't show up at the time. That is probably why she isn't commiting herself completely yet to the next race but registered in case she does feel fit enough.

 

[aftershavedave]

I certainly hope that she enters the 10,000m after all what has she got to lose. But I cant quite understand why she wont commit to it though - surely the indecision cant help in the preparation.

most books advise leaving a gap of 4 months between competitive marathons and even a top class athlete like radcliffe would normally have a couple of weeks off after such an effort.

i believe she had only intended to have a go in the 10k if she won and felt good. she's now stuck in a corner where if she doesn't race she's a quitter (again) and if she does her chances of winning must be low. if she was to win gold it would be (in my opinion) a higher achievement than the marathon world record last year.

 

[Albion Dan]

That is probably why she isn't commiting herself completely yet to the next race but registered in case she does feel fit enough.

Yorkie, that is complete and utter speculation made up entirely by you. You cant just invent excuses for the girl willy nilly, which is what you seem to be doing to defend her.

Is it me or are all the happy clappy Blind faith Paula supporters the exact same happy clappy blind faith Albion fans?

 

[Eastleigh Seagull]

she cant really lose by entering the 10,000.

If she stops halfway round in tears again then it is poor plucky Paula doing her best for Britain while if she wins it would be a shoe-in for Sports Personality and more millions for her bank account - win/win.

Dont expect her to finish the race though if it is clear she isnt going to win.

 

[Yorkie]

Yorkie, that is complete and utter speculation made up entirely by you. You cant just invent excuses for the girl willy nilly, which is what you seem to be doing to defend her.

Is it me or are all the happy clappy Blind faith Paula supporters the exact same happy clappy blind faith Albion fans?

I am not a Paula supporter. It doesn't matter to me one bit if Britain get another gold.

I just happen to think differently to the majority of the people that post here.