Teenage kicks all through the night.
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Paula Radcliffe has been involved in another bicycle accident. (Last year, her training partner, Marian Sutton, crashed into her on a training run.) Though she sustained a dislocated jaw, she is still the favourite in London. Indeed, the IAAF site goes further than the official London Marathon site and speculates that she may win the Jim Peters Trophy for the first British runner home. David Bedford is said to be uncertain whether it was intended for the first man or person. (They probably didn't consider the possibility of a woman being first.) There are no British men expected to challenge her this year; last year she was fourth Briton.
Steve Cram considers Paula's best tactics, and the male race (which is wide open). Can it be Paula and Paul (Tergat)? We hope so.
London, being well-organised, is going ahead. The Washington DC Marathon, scheduled for March 19, was cancelled four days before the race. The organisers cited security concerns, although no other events in the US were cancelled that day, and refused to pay refunds. (I can only take pleasure in their discomfort, as they got hold of my email address and sent me several unwanted updates until I found a way to turn them off.)
Added 11 April
The Guardian interviews Gezahegne Abera, but it has this surprising observation The bookmakers have surprisingly made Abera second favourite behind the Kenyan Paul Tergat, who has not won any of his four marathons. The IAAF have a picture of Tergat winning his second World Championship Half Marathon on their 'Mystic Huggy' piece London Men's Marathon could be a three-man affair.
Tergat is still the second-fastest ever 10000m runner, fastest over the half marathon, and a 12:49.87 5000m man. Not to mention World Cross-Country champion five times. In short, he's my favourite in London. Paul Horvarth, of San Domenico, met him after the race last year and says that he's really nice too.
Last updated 26 December 2005
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