Paula Radcliffe has revealed how she contemplated retirement in April before surgery she believes has transformed career. Radcliffe, 35, misses the World Championship marathon here today as she recovers from having a bunion removed from her right foot.It forced her out of this year's Flora London Marathon four months ago and then she even talked to her husband about whether her career was over.
She said: "It is frustrating and it kills you mentally trying to get ready for something, then to get pulled away. I asked Gary 'Am I just too old? I have had my time and been lucky? I have had a longer time than most people, is that it?' Gary was getting mad at me. He was saying 'Don't be stupid, you are not'. I knew mentally I am a long way from that. Most people say the time they are getting ready for retirement is when they cannot get ready mentally to go out and kill themselves day after day. I was trying to get out, but my body was saying 'No, you are injured again'. That was becoming really hard to deal with."
Now she said: "To know that's gone, I've years left." Her aim is to win the marathon at the Olympics in London. In Beijing last summer, Romanian Constantina Dita triumphed at 38 - the same age Radcliffe will be during the Games in 2012. She is likely to defend her New York Marathon crown in November.
DailyMirror
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