NYC Women

I've had years and years of her outsprinting me, and I just thought there's no way it's going to happen again," Radcliffe said.

"It was tough - I didn't have the breathing problems I usually get towards the end, but my legs felt very tired. I just kept repeating to myself 'I love you Isla' to keep my rhythm going."

Radcliffe paid tribute to American elite runner Ryan Shay who collapsed and died during Saturday's US men's marathon trials in Central Park.

"This (winning) is sport but that is a tragedy, and it puts everything into perspective," she said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/7077867.stm

(inc post race video interview)

That was one hell of a race. I had fullest confidence that Paula would eventually knock the kick out of Wami, but it took one hell of an effort. I had expected Paula would do it on the downhills, but Gete actually used those to stay close. On the flat at 800 M to go, Gete made one desperate attempt to pass Paula, but Radciffe's relentless pace had ultimately paid off: Gete had nothing, and Paula responded by applying the final pounding. She is simply without equal.

I've had years and years of her outsprinting me, and I just thought there's no way it's going to happen again," Radcliffe said.

"It was tough - I didn't have the breathing problems I usually get towards the end, but my legs felt very tired. I just kept repeating to myself 'I love you Isla' to keep my rhythm going."

Radcliffe paid tribute to American elite runner Ryan Shay who collapsed and died during Saturday's US men's marathon trials in Central Park.

"This (winning) is sport but that is a tragedy, and it puts everything into perspective," she said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/7077867.stm

(inc post race video interview)

Awesome race. How incredible was Wami's sudden surge and then crack as Paual responded with 800m to go? Amazing. She looked like she'd never left.

There's a really interesting analysis including all the 5km splits in a table at this site:

http://scienceofsport.blogspot.com/2007/11/ing-nyc-marathon-2007-triumphant-return.html

Includes the men's race, which was pretty impressive too...

Paula is the greatest marathon runner ever.

Eight marathons - seven victories, one DNF. World Championship gold and reigning world record holder.

2002 - London 2.18.56 1st

2002 - Chicago 2.2.17.18 1st

2003 - London 2.15.25 1st (World Record)

2004 - Athens DNF Olympic Games

2004 - New York 2.23.10 1st

2005 - London 2.17.42 1st

2005 - Helsinki 2.20.57 1st World Champs

2007 - New York 2.23.09 1st

Yep. Forget about sex. She is the greatest marathon runner ever. And her first WR came in her second race.

Yeah, I remember seeing her at the English Schools cross country. She was such a gusty and determined runner, worked so hard.

Just like today. Pure class.

I am a huge Radcliffe fan, but have to give kudos to Wami. After running Belin only 35 days ago, to run in NY at that pace and come so close, pretty amazing. You could see she had some stomach/stitch problems, her hand would go to her side a few times. She looked so relaxed despite it all.

Deena was in NYC. Wonder what she is thinking as she sees this performance. Hard to acknowledge it but Paula is on a different plane entirely than Deena.

Yeah. That was great. But Paula did all the freaking work. Wami was like her shadow. There were many shots from the camera in front where it looked like Paula was alone, then suddenly you'd see an arm of other part of Wami appear from behind Radcliffe. The helicopter shots showed her never more than one stride behind, save for the occasional surge from Paula. Wami could not have run that fast into the wind all by herself- and when Gete finally did try to pass her- she had nothing. Paula had drained her tank down to E.

London 2012 boss Sebastian Coe heaped praise on Paula Radcliffe after watching her win the New York Marathon, just 10 months after giving birth. "She's something else," he said of the 33-year-old. "Paula has clearly now transcended track and field. "Paula is one of the biggest names in British sport of all time."

Lord Coe also noted that Radcliffe aims to run the marathon at the 2012 Games, saying: "She's talking about it. I wouldn't bet against her." Radcliffe, who was running her first marathon in two years and 81 days, crossed the finish line in two hours 23 minutes and nine seconds after a race-long duel with Ethiopian Gete Wami.

Lord Coe, chairman of the London 2012 organising committee, believes Radcliffe has made a huge impact on athletics in Britain and inspired more girls to take up running. "She has taken this distance to a different level, completely changed it," added the double Olympic 1500m champion. "She has had more impact on track and field than any single man in the last 15 or 16 seasons."

Radcliffe's winning time on Sunday secured her Olympic berth for Beijing 2008, but the marathon star has not ruled the possibility of competing in London as well.

She said: "It would be an electric occasion to be able to take part in the Olympics in your home country, with that support. "If my body can hold together, which I'm sure it can do, then I would really love to be there."

Lord Coe commented: "She'll probably have two or three children by then. "It's possible. It's a very unforgiving sport, a very unforgiving event but she's uniquely focused and uniquely talented."

As I said yesterday, it seemed to me that Wami accelerated past Paula on CPS but then seemed to just shut it down. Not that she blew up. It didn't appear that Paula picked it up, but that Wami slowed down. Anyone else have that reaction? If that's what happened, I wonder why because it was very strange.

It wasn't strange at all. She'd been glued to Paula's backside for 25 miles. She finally had to make a move and set the new pace and when she did- she had nothing. Paula had successfully defeated her by beating her down for the previous 25 miles. Running Berlin 5 weeks before didn't help either. Wami was done. It was amazing she even stuck around for 25 miles, but she then again had stayed in Paula's windstream the whole time which isn't quite the same as running all alone. When she tried to pull out and use the passing gear, it was finally clear for all to see that she had been running as fast as she possibly could the whole time- and that was only good enough to stay close to Paula- not pass her.

Good analysis. Thanks. Like someone in NASCAR getting out of the draft, or on a bike for that matter.