The IAAF has come in for a lot of vilification but there are probably a lot of other sporting federations, particularly where its contact and a physical strength sport, who are really watching this, they want to see what it means for the future of female sport and also what it will do in terms of the whole transgender question.

Paula Radcliffe

Categorized in : Sports

Never set limits, go after your dreams, don't be afraid to push the boundaries. And laugh a lot - it's good for you!

Paula Radcliffe

dream success motivational

Today was not about times, it was about getting in there, enjoying the race, and enjoying the atmosphere

Paula Radcliffe

atmosphere race running

Go in any direction..seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.

Paula Radcliffe

sight feet running

You can be strong and true to yourself without being rude or loud.

Paula Radcliffe

true-to-yourself being-strong rude

You can't become a winner overnight, or even in a couple of years-it takes time... You will lose races and you will have to accept that, learn from it and believe that you'll win the next one, knowing that you'll probably lose that as well. All the time you have to keep believing that one day you will win.

Paula Radcliffe

couple running believe

Actually I don't choose to expose myself in public. I choose to compete; the other side just comes with the package.

Paula Radcliffe

packages sides

Every time I go out and race it's a goal to go out and run faster than I've done before.

Paula Radcliffe

race running sports

From my training I can get a good idea of what I'm capable of.

Paula Radcliffe

training i-can ideas

There's always going to be somebody who takes a dislike to you and you can't waste time worrying about it.

Paula Radcliffe

wasting-time waste worry

In the marathon anything can happen.

Paula Radcliffe

anything-can-happen marathon happens

I start planning then that's dangerous because then I have a target that I'm blinkered towards and I won't listen to the warning signs quite so much. I'd rather be in shape and then look around and say there's a race next week and jump into that than have it planned.

Paula Radcliffe

target race next-week

I have not had the chance to go out there and do myself justice in an Olympic marathon yet. I have not been able to get to an Olympic marathon injury-free yet.

Paula Radcliffe

able chance justice

The biggest danger is trying to put too much pressure on yourself, trying to get in too good shape.

Paula Radcliffe

too-much shapes trying

Doing the long endurance stuff seems to have given me the strength to sustain the speed. I think my body is just a lot stronger (thanks to the marathon)... By increasing the long runs, I found that does not take anything away from the speed but increases the strength on the track.

Paula Radcliffe

running long thinking

As an athlete, there are advantages being with a team and getting regular physio...

Paula Radcliffe

advantage team athlete

In the week before a race, I try to stay away from germ areas. I keep disinfectant wipes in my bag for when I have to use a supermarket trolley or something like that.

Paula Radcliffe

bags race trying

I can't imagine living and not running.

Paula Radcliffe

imagine running sports

The cheats always have a way of justifying their behaviour - everyone else is getting away with it, so why shouldn't I? But because they're so reliant on the drugs - and the drugs are not always perfect, you're not guaranteed to peak at a big event - they don't have the confidence to look in the mirror and know that they can go out and give their best. If you're clean and you've prepared well for a race, that's where you have an edge.

Paula Radcliffe

drug perfect giving

I was glad I did a year abroad, because it helped me as an athlete and as a person. That took me out of my comfort zone. Watching the French athletes train in the Pyrenees made me realise what I had to do to become a top athlete.

Paula Radcliffe

athlete comfort glad

You see, with me, when I'm nervous, I smile and laugh.

Paula Radcliffe

nervous smile laughing