After the race, Radcliffe’s fitness guru, Gerard Hartmann, said: “What Paula has achieved is a quantum leap not only for women’s marathon-running but the men’s as well. After her achievement today, everyone should be re-thinking their game plan.”
With this said, we can only wonder whether ‘Superwoman’ can live up to Hartmann’s sentiments.
For the race itself, Radcliffe was purely spectacular and the Men’s race was enthralling, with 5 runners locked in battle over the final 200m.
Once all the dust had settled regarding the pacemakers, which she had for company however at no time did she ‘slipstream’ them to gain the benefit of a ‘buffer’, Radcliffe was to be subjected to murmurings of ‘blood doping’ etc …
Time-to-Run has mentioned elsewhere in the Marathon Section, that Women’s Marathoning was due for a major shake-up, as the distance had progressed in line with the Men’s record and that the Golden Years were in the early 80’s. Thereafter the record was reduced to sub 2:20 and then to sub 2:19 a week later.
Then Radcliffe arrived and she has now moved the time to a landmark 2:15 which will probably stand for another number of years, just as the 2:20 time stood for years.
The Brit is a dedicated athlete and her focus is supreme, the amount of money available to her now is phenomenal, and she can race sparingly. This will allow for her to have another ‘crack’ at going sub 2:15.
On the Men’s side, Gezahegne Abera of Ethiopia, by winning in a sprint finish in 2:07:56, added to his allure of being a Big Day exponent. He will now go towards the Paris World Championship Marathon with an even higher status, as he seeks to defend his title.
If Abera is able to achieve this, he will move into the ranks of the great. Only time will tell.
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