Radcliffe took a break through the 2006 season owing to injuries and in July announced that she was expecting her first child. Her comeback was further delayed in 2007 as a result of a stress fracture in her lower back.
Radcliffe chose not to defend her world marathon crown in 2007, in order to undertake further rehabilitation, but insisted she wanted to compete in the next two Olympics. She made her return to competitive running on 30 September 2007, taking part in the BUPA Great North Run in the UK on Tyneside. This was her first race in almost two years. Radcliffe finished second behind US runner Kara Goucher.
Radcliffe made her marathon return at the New York City Marathon on 4 November 2007 which she won with an official time of 2:23:09.
Radcliffe released an autobiography in 2004, Paula: My Story So Far.
Year Competition Venue Position Notes
1991 World Cross Country Championships Antwerp, Belgium 15th Junior cross country
1992 World Cross Country Championships Boston, USA 1st Junior cross country
World Junior Championships Seoul, South Korea 4th 3000 m
1993 World Cross Country Championships Amorebieta, Spain 18th Cross country
World Championships Stuttgart, Germany 7th 3000 m
1995 World Cross Country Championships Durham, England 18th Cross country
World Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 5th 5000 m
IAAF Grand Prix Final Monaco 4th 3000 m
1996 World Cross Country Championships Stellenbosch, South Africa 19th Cross country
Olympic Games Atlanta, USA 5th 5000 m
IAAF Grand Prix Final Milan, Italy 4th 5000 m
1997 World Cross Country Championships Turin, Italy 2nd Cross country
European Cup Munich, Germany 3rd 3000 m
World Championships Athens, Greece 4th 5000 m
IAAF Grand Prix Final Fukuoka, Japan 3rd 5000 m
1998 World Cross Country Championships Marrakech, Morocco 2nd Cross country
European Cup St. Petersburg, Russia 1st 5000 m
European Championships Budapest, Hungary 5th 10,000 m
1999 World Cross Country Championships Belfast, Northern Ireland 3rd Cross country
European Cup Paris, France 1st 5000 m
World Championships Seville, Spain 2nd 10,000 m
IAAF Grand Prix Final Munich, Germany 4th 3000 m
2000 World Cross Country Championships Vilamoura, Portugal 4th Short Cross Country
5th Long Cross Country
Olympic Games Sydney, Australia 4th 10,000 m
2001 World Cross Country Championships Ostend, Belgium 2nd Short Cross Country
1st Long Cross Country
European Cup Bremen, Germany 2nd 5000 m
World Championships Edmonton, Canada 4th 10,000 m
2002 World Cross Country Championships Dublin, Republic of Ireland 1st Long Cross Country
Commonwealth Games Manchester, England 1st 5000 m
European Championships Munich, Germany 1st 10,000 m
2004 European Cup Bydgoszcz, Poland 1st 5000 m
Olympic Games Athens, Greece DNF Marathon
DNF 10,000 m
2005 World Championships Helsinki, Finland 1st Marathon
---
2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China 23rd Marathon
2012 Olympic Games London, Great Britain DNS Marathon