Paula Radcliffe will not take it easy in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic marathon.
British star will not hold back in build-up to final Olympic challenge
Paula Radcliffe insists she will not be taking it easy in the run-up to what will be the single biggest race of her life - the marathon at the London 2012 Olympics.
The world record holder is one of the best runners ever to tackle the maximum distance, but things have not worked out well for her at the pinnacle of the sport.
The British star has had heart breaking performances in the last two Olympics and is still missing the Olympic most people believe she deserves.
A three-time New York City marathon winner, Radcliffe is back in the Big Apple at the weekend to watch the race and she has no intention of playing it safe in the lead-up to London 2012.
With those two huge disappointments behind her, Radcliffe says she will prepare depending on how she feels, and will not be taking it easy.
"People say to me, 'Oh, you should be really careful and just race there or don't race at all in the build-up,'" said Radcliffe. "I've done that and it didn't work then, either. Sometimes you want to just go with what feels right."
37-year-old Radcliffe says that a number of factors make next summer such a huge occasion, not just the anguish of the past but also the fact it is a home Olympics and most probably her last.
"And I guess for me realistically as well it probably is my last Olympics, and the other Olympics haven't gone really well, so that's kind of been another reason why it is," she admitted.
"But at the same time, I think perversely because of what I've been through at the other two Olympics, it's not as big. A lot of it actually does come down to luck. Stressing over it doesn't do a whole lot of good."
Radcliffe has not won a marathon since 2008, but she did come in third in Berlin in September to qualify for the Olympics, when she hopes top finally arrive at a Games in top form.
Also a three-time winner of the London marathon, the city will have great memories for Radcliffe and she could make the best one of all should she finally achieve her Olympic dream next summer.
"People talk about visualization: I can imagine myself running up The Mall 100 times," Radcliffe said. "It's so easy."
