It was all about taking part and not about finish times for Paula Radcliffe on Sunday, and it was mission accomplished for the British great in the 2025 Tokyo Marathon.
Radcliffe stepped onto a marathon course for the first time in 10 years in the Japanese capital, as she set out with the goal of clinching a coveted Six Star medal in 2025.
The former world record holder (she held that honour for a remarkable 16 years after running 2:15:25 in London 2003), now aged 51, was not looking at the clock this time, just content to get through the race and complete her goal. And complete it she did.
What time did Paula Radcliffe run?
By the end of the 26.2-mile trip in the Japanese capital, Paula stopped the clock in a time of 2:57:22.
She had revealed before the event that a long-term foot injury meant there was no way she would be jeopardising her next goal – the Boston Marathon in April. A finish there would complete that Six Star mission.
Paula had insisted: “I really have no time goals whatsoever. It’s about getting out there and being a part of it. I think the camaraderie is almost bigger and better in the middle of the race than it is at the [front] in the elite race so I’m really looking forward to that side of it.
Cannot control people’s expectations
“I can’t control other people’s expectations, I can only control my own. People will say – and it’s natural, I would say it – ”I wonder what they can do’.
“But the overwhelming thing is I want to come out the other side having had a great time, a great experience and still be able to run on my foot. I don’t want to set that back because it’s taken me a long time to get to the point of being able to run every day.
“I know that in the middle of my career I was able to get the best out of myself – so running fast at 51 is not a huge goal. Having said that, when I get out there I’m sure my competitive instinct will kick in!”
