I've known Paula and her family since she was 14. She was one of many talented young girls that Bedford & County Athletic club have produced over the years. Her long time coaches Alec and Rosemary Stanton have helped guide her to success, while keeping her feet firmly on the ground. But the ... Read review
Advantages: has always worked and trained hard, campaigns against drug cheats Disadvantages: just does not quite get it right in the 'big one'
I've known Paula and her family since she was 14. She was one of many talented young girls that Bedford & County Athletic club have produced over the years. Her long time coaches Alec and Rosemary Stanton have helped guide her to success, while keeping her feet firmly on the ground. But the thing that has made Paula into a world leader is her intelligence, determination and an excellent 'team' around her.
Back in her junior days, ... ...is a big question. But Paula has gone on from School to University, got her degree and that in itself shows a determination and an abilty to learn.
She has learnt that despite her ungainly style – head up, looking to all the world that she is in pain – she can run faster than most of her opposition
She has won countless medals over the past 10 years, but the ‘big ones’ just keep on eluding her. ... more
I've known Paula and her family since she was 14. She was one of many talented young girls that Bedford & County Athletic club have produced over the years. Her long time coaches Alec and Rosemary Stanton have helped guide her to success, while keeping her feet firmly on the ground. But the thing that has made Paula into a world leader is her intelligence, determination and an excellent 'team' around her.
Back in her junior days, she would lead her races and get outkicked - often by Charlotte Mayock (John Mayock's younger sister). Her own Bedford squad at the same age group contained Liz Talbot - now Liz Yelling, herself a top British middle distance runner and National Cross Country champion earlier this year and another girl Claire Wilson, both of whom were - at 14/15 - as talented as Paula. Why she got to the top and others have not is a big question. But Paula has gone on from School to University, got her degree and that in itself shows a determination and an abilty to learn.
She has learnt that despite her ungainly style – head up, looking to all the world that she is in pain – she can run faster than most of her opposition
She has won countless medals over the past 10 years, but the ‘big ones’ just keep on eluding her. Her success in ‘failure’ continues to capture the nation’s hearts. First there was a valiant 4th place in the Sydney Olympics last year. Then again, in Edmonton this month, she has once again been run out of the medals in the World Championships. But more than anything it is Paula’s stand against Drugs in Sport and athletics in general that has gained her most fans.
He upbringing – both in her sport and family – plays a key part in understanding what makes her tick. Parents Peter and Pat are always around for her. Mum, Pat, was team Manager for a while at the Bedford club and even younger brother Martin was a talented runner for a while – although nowhere near in the mould of Paula. To have reached the level of winning the World Cross Country Championship this winter and shortly afterwards the World Half Marathon title, betrays her roots. She has always loved distance running. She was never going to have speed to run 1500m – but that has not stopped her in her quest to because one of the best in the world
Now married to Gary Lough – former top GB 1500m runner. He acts as her training partner when they are at home in Switzeland – training runs around the Font Romeu area. The training routines are done at altitude and the occasional trip to Albequerque, New Mexico for some more altitude work, but in a warmer climate, indicates the level of work needed just to try to match the all-conquering African runners. They are so dominant at all of the distances races, Paula has to go to fantastic lengths to try to ‘get amongst them’. It would of course be very easy to try to use ‘artificial’ aids – drugs – to cheat your way to the top, like certain of the East European athletes still attempt. But Paula is actively against drug cheats. She advocates – as all right thinking sports fans do – that Drugs cheats should get life bans. At Edmonton she was memorably pictured holding up a banner with fellow GB runner Hayley Yelling proclaiming ‘No to EPO’ – the banned kidney drug that has brought success to several ‘iffy’ athletes.
But ultimately Paula is frustrating. She ran a poor tactical race in the 10,000 metres final and was outsprinted again (I’ve seen that happen so many times….!!) by three Africans, to finish 4th. But a definite inspiration to other female athletes in this country and beyond that you can succeed by hard work and stay clean.
Her recent sponsorship package from Nike – rumoured to be in the region of £400,000 – a huge amount for an athlete is a message to others that financial rewards can be had in Athletics without cheating. Hopefully Paula’s victory in this year’s World Half Marathon championships will bode well for her much rumoured step up to the Marathon distance sometime in the next 12 months. Then, at last, she may get that ever so elusive Olympic or World Gold medal at the next games.
If ever someone really deserves it – it is PAULA RADCLIFFE.
...often been used to describe Paula Radcliffe, Britain's top long distance athlete. However, from yesterday, they can now add the word 'winner' to that list. Yesterday evening, I was among 36,000 people cheering Paula on as she became the Commonwealth 5000m champion, destroying a top-quality field and almost breaking the world record in the process. After years of heartache on the track, with more near-misses than almost any other world-class athlete, ... ...Hope and Glory' whilst seeing Paula on the winner's podium is a memory that I'll never forget. She now goes on to European Championships in Munich next week, where she will run the 10,000m and possibly the 5000m too. She is also due to run another Marathon in Boston in October against Ndereba, where the World Best is sure to go. In her last 3 races, she has set British records, and has never been in better shape. Her finishing sprint is improving ...
stoffy 31.07.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Paula Radcliffe
Advantages: Determination, stamina, principled stand against drugs Disadvantages: Lacks that final sprint speed
Paula Radcliffe is an admirable athlete. For starters, she is a very good bet for a medal at the forthcoming World Championships in Canada - and if luck is on her side, its colour might even be gold. Such an outcome would be a fitting reward for her hard work after the disappointment of just missing out in Sydney. But it's not her performances on the track, excellent though they are, that should attract most praise. What is arguably more important ... ...out onto the track now, Paula Radcliffe's greatest asset is her extraordinary endurance and resilience. Without the sprint finish of most of her fellow top distance runners, her best chance is to break from the pack early and hope she can hold on. In all but the very best company, this strategy works very well, but when she comes up against a truly world-class field the odds are that she will struggle in the last half lap. This is backed up by a ...
davidbuttery 27.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Paula Radcliffe
Advantages: Talented Inspirational Gutsy Determined Disadvantages: Bad Luck
...a truly magnificent run by Paula who left other world class athletes including the Kenyan runners in her wake.Kenyan runners Edith Masai and Iness Chenonges took second and third places. Paul was born at Nantwich in Cheshire on the 17 th December,1973. Her height is 1,73 metres and she weighs 54 kg. She holds British records in the 10,000 metres,5000 metres,and 3000 metres,is the World Cross Country Champion, Half Marathon Champion and won the London ... ...Paula who comes from a sports minded family,her Great Aunt, was a champion swimmer, is renowned in atletics for her inspirational,griity,gutsy performances. Let no one doubt either her tremendous ability. Her recent record is impressive,eg Commonwaelth Games,2002, Ist in 5,000 metres Olympic Games 2000, 4th in 10,000metres Olympic Games,1996, 5th in 5000 metres World Championships,2002, 4th in 10000 metres World Championships,1999, 2nd in 10,000 ...
ashford 02.08.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Paula Radcliffe
Paula has had an up and down career and is hoping to make a big impression at Sydney. She has an ungainly running style which causes her head to bob up and down and side to side which may have many coaches concerned that this is very uneconomical and energy consuming particularly over a grueling event like the 10,000 metres. She is a really tough character and her determination and grit is evident everey time she runs. A very lovely character with ...
Mohammed 13.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Paula Radcliffe
Advantages: Determined, brave , a fighter Disadvantages: prone to injury
...to find out more about paula and the many injuries shes had to run with or hide from the public then Her biography My story so far is a must! It will pull the heart strings of everyone who reads it to know what this women has juggled. DEDICATION, SELF-BELIEF AND SUPPORT. 3 words to sum up this incredable women ...
Adele15151 08.02.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Paula Radcliffe
Technique
Temperament
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Advantages: Strength. Stamina. Determination. Trains well Disadvantages: The 400 metres is highly competitive
Great Britain does not have too many genuine world class performers among its female athletes, PaulaRadcliffe and Kelly Holmes,are among those that most would quote but now a young lady from the Ashford area in Kent,has clearly emerged as a real world class performer.
Katherine Merry started her career as a good 200 metres runner but has really achieved prominence in the athletics world since switching to the 400 metres. Already she has an Olympic bronze medal to her credit and recently won at the London Grand Prix. Whilst there are a number of very good 400 metre runners,in my opinion, Katherine is second only to the great and hugely popular Aussie runner, Cathy Freeman.
The charming,very determined, and thoroughly likeable Miss Merry -please do not consider me biased because she is from Kent-is made for the 400 metres. Coached ...
ashford 27.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Katharine Merry
Advantages: My Body is a Temple..... Disadvantages: The temple wall is starting to buckle!!!!
before I have kids.
5. Run a marathon and do a big bike race.
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5 CELEBRITY CRUSHES
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1. Jonny Wilkinson
2. Richard Gear (cant spell it!)
3. cant think of any more!
4. Nick Park. (not a crush but an inspiration)
5. PaulaRadcliff (once again deffinately not a crush! very much inspiration)
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5 THINGS THAT GIVE ME THE HEEBIE JEEBIES
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1. My Brother!..he stinks and he's all hairy!!!
2. Morning Breath!!
3. Snakes
4. Pubic Hair - Yuk! (I agree with SnowiestElf on this!!!)
5. Whisky ?..blurgh!
6. Driving on icy, snowy roads ...
?
Not really, apart from being named as the winner of a prize draw.
(I won a £5 voucher, i.e., £5 off if I buy £500 worth of goods).
>> What is your local MP called and which party do they represent?
Karen Buck of Labour Party, one of the anti-hunt MPs. Nice lady.
>> Heinz or HP Baked Beans, which do you prefer?
I don't care, whatever the cheapest goes into my shopping basket!
>> What's your favourite slang word for money?
'The brown envelope'.
>> What's your favourite Only Fools and Horse's moment?
Don't really watch that program.
>> Delia Smith or Nigella Lawson?
Delia Smith. She's such a British icon.
>> Which piece of breaking news sticks in your mind most vividly?
Poor PaulaRadcliffe dropping out of the Marathon in Athens.
>> What do you prefer most on toast?
No buts, but ...
