I love Paula, but she's no Ingrid Kristansen!

But are you sure Ingrid is not a little boy?

IK don't agree with you.

You're right that Paula is no Ingrid. Paula is faster.

Truthfulness wrote:

You're right that Paula is no Ingrid. Paula is faster.

Check out these PBs

3K IK:8:34, PR:8:22

5K IK:14:37, PR:14:31

10K IK:30:13, PR:30:01

26.2miles IK:2:21:05, PR:2:17:18

So how is the slower runner the better athlete?

Because she won more titles?

If PR was transported back in time to 1900 or something and won every running event in the Olympics that would make her the better runner?

No, all that history proves is that the great IK was more outstanding against a weaker international standard. Period. Today, the best woman distance runner all-round is PR, no question.

Edith,

As much as I hate to agree with you on anything, I have to here. You are 100% right. Paula is the better runner. She also has a husband who knows his place, so I'm sure you like them both for that. :-)

:-)

You Paula fanatics must not be history buffs, if so you would realize that all Paula has done Ingrid has done and more. It is a given that Paula would be faster considering that eventually all the records from the 1980's have been

surpassed. The true measure of the greatest is what they

have accomplished in major championships.

Paula-has won several world x-country titles, indoor titles, and 1/2 marathons titles. One world best!

Ingrid-numerous gold medals including world outdoor, olympic medal, 1/2 marathon titles, marathon title, and NUMEROUS world records and world best!

Paula a tremendous athlete who will accomplish many more great things; however, she may (but not yet) surpass the greatest female distance runner of all time Ingrid Kristainsen! Give her time to win ONE gold medal in an MAJOR international outdoor meet, before proclaiming her as the best thing since the wheel!

Vipam

Once again, Vipam, you're making my head hurt.

"Paula-has won several world x-country titles, indoor titles, and 1/2 marathons titles. One world best!"

Several cross-country titles don't mean anything to you? Only something that happens every four years is your only way of measuring how great an athlete is? That's just crap, especially if you're looking at the marathon level. A lot of what it takes to peak just right for the Olympic marathon is being at the right place in your career at the right time. Sometimes injury and experience may get in the way of that. The fact that she has totally obliterated the world best in the marathon is reason enough to give her the nod as greatest female distance runner of all time.

Anyway, when her best times across the board are better than Ingrid's, I don't think, "It is a given that Paula would be faster considering that eventually all the records from the 1980's have been surpassed," is a valid argument.

Guinness

I apologize for any discomfort my post may have caused you;

however, it is my opinion that while Paula is a great runner-with many great competitions yet to be raced. In my opinion Ingrid Kristainsen career earn her the title as bes female distance runner. Who was voted as the best female 10000m runner of the 20th century, one of the top 3 marathoners in the decade of the 80's: INGRID KRISTAINSEN!

Guinness don't get me wrong, I truly feel Paula will eventually earn the title of greatest female distance runner. I just think even with her MINDBOGGLING 2002 season its a little early to label her with that accolade!

Vipam

Vipam wrote:

Who was voted as the best female 10000m runner of the 20th century, one of the top 3 marathoners in the decade of the 80's: INGRID KRISTAINSEN!

Vipam

Vipam

As stated above, the great IK's PBs have been surpassed, most comprehensively by PR...

Welcome to the 21st century.

Vipam,

Umm...look at a calendar already. "We're not in Kansas anymore." There were so many awe-inspiring races in the 20th century. Remember when Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile? I guess since he was the best on that day that he is still the best? Doesn't matter that Ingrid was the greatest to come along in her day. Her day has passed, and it is Paula who carries the torch as the best women's runner. I'd give it to her on that Marathon WB alone, but she has done so much more, and she's still on the upswing. But, even if she never won another race, until another woman comes along and crushes her times the way she did IK's, then Paula is still the best. "Scoreboard!" Paula wins.

Slg Edith

I know from the previous post you posted, that you are have

some knowledge of the sport. The greatest distance runner

title doesn't always go to the swiftest; however, in most circumstances it goes to those that have done well in championships. Records are meant to be broken but titles are forever (of course someone would eventually break/shatter Ingrid's records).

Paula a tremendous runner; however, if Gete Wami or the chinese athlete: Sun come along next year and run 29:45 at the Worlds and beat Paula would that make them the best athlete. Gete and the chinese along with PAULA are all capable of 29:45 and 2:16:45 and if they do that would they take Paula's title? Paula is one of the greatest female distance runners of all-time and could POSSIBLY become the greatest, in 2003!

Vipam

Vipam wrote:

Paula a tremendous runner; however, if Gete Wami or the chinese athlete: Sun come along next year and run 29:45 at the Worlds and beat Paula would that make them the best athlete. Gete and the chinese along with PAULA are all capable of 29:45 and 2:16:45 and if they do that would they take Paula's title?

Vipam

IF and WHEN they do that, THEN they will be faster than PR over 10k on track and marathon on road. All they got to do then is beat her and win the XC world championships and they will be best all-round distance runner in the world. It's really that simple...

Vipam wrote:

Ingrid Kristainsen ... was voted as the best female 10000m runner of the 20th century

If, in 2101, Radcliffe is voted best female 10000m runner of the 21st century, only then could she be compared to Ingrid.

Surely you are kidding. If not, that is the silliest thing I have ever heard. As if an arbitrary time like 100 years has anything to do with anything. Paula is better now. That's all that matters.

Paula has the world marathon record - therefore she is undoubtedly the best marathon runner ever. However, winning the commonwealth title and european titles once doesn't make her the best distance runner ever yet. She still has to win a world title on the track. She hasn't raced anyone of consequence over 5000m this year. She still has a lot of people to beat on the track yet. The Ethiopians have proved that no matter how fast she runs at 10,000m they can keep with her and beat her. She has proved herself over the marathon, next year she will have to prove herself on the track. It'll be interesting, and I think she'll do it!

I'm not adding to this arguement, but i do think that Paula's success has been blown out proportion on this board. I mean, KK set a world record this year and we didn't hear about it nearly this much. In fact, when he did that, we still heard more about Paula in that race.

What gives? Everyday there's a new article about her. I love her, and all she's done and her hard work, but I'm getting tired of her now.

[quote]runtastic wrote:

Paula has the world marathon record - therefore she is undoubtedly the best marathon runner ever. [quote]

She is also the 2002 world XC long race womens' champion.

And her 2002 PB over 10K in Munich stadium is faster than any Ethiopian's. Only one woman EVER done it better.

That makes her #1 all-round distance runner for now.

Next year she may go faster.

But no one ever thinks this:

Paula Radcliffe is better than Khalid Khanoucci!!!!!!

If you see the frequency stat and record comparison percentage, you would think that if Paula was born with testosterone, she can run below-2:00-marathon.

karangasem.