can Paula win ?

[mump boy]

I know we have this discussion every year but with Mikitenko's withrawal and Ndereba not running it leaves the marathon wide open with no favourite I can think of. Can a 90% Paula win ? There was a very encouraging article in a uk magazine this week (I'll try and find it online) I wouldn't count her out

[gh]

She has devolved into the fave on the T&FN formchart.

[nevetsllim]

I don't see anyone stopping her now. At full fitness, the only athlete who could beat Paula was Mikitenko and now she's out, I can't see anyone defeating her.

I really hope she doesn't withdraw because not only am I a fan, it's looking a bit thin on the ground because not only has Irina pulled out, Tomescu, Ndereba and Yamauchi will all be absent.

However it will be interesting to see what sort of shape Zhou Chunxiu is in.

[nevetsllim]

Was this the article, Mump?

http://www.myfreesport.co.uk/123/123_article_left_3.htm

[K.I.R.]

At full fitness, the only athlete who could beat Paula was Mikitenko

I'm having a hard time convincing myself that anyone could beat Paula at full fitness.

[SQUACKEE]

At full fitness, the only athlete who could beat Paula was Mikitenko

I'm having a hard time convincing myself that anyone could beat Paula at full fitness.

When did Mikitenko run 2:15? 2:16? 2:17? :shock:

[Jon]

Was this the article, Mump?
http://www.myfreesport.co.uk/123/123_article_left_3.htm

There are some worrying parts of that article - particularly this:

"...It’s still hit and miss because although I’m doing the mileage, the sessions are not quite good enough. I really want to go but sometimes you can try too hard.

"...I’m doing all the mileage but it’s just not quite… on the long runs it’ll be good for an hour and a half and then bad for 45 minutes. But that’s better than three weeks ago when it was good for an hour and then really bad."

However, the fact that she has been talking to the press is a good sign. She had been eerily silent up until late, and I'm sure she has probably considered giving it a miss. But with Mikitenko dropping out, I reckon that'll give Radcliffe the incentive to give it a bash. If she goes into Berlin with her Beijing-type fitness, it's still dodgy ground. But if she is able to get to the fitness that she had in New York (still not 100% but decent), then that might just be enough to win it.

[mojo]

Thanks for clearing up her status guys! :?

I am kidding as no one seems to know-I don't think it sounds very promising.

45 minutes to an hour of ugly doesn't sound like something Paula would put herself through.

But then maybe I am projecting? ops:

[mump boy]

Was this the article, Mump?
http://www.myfreesport.co.uk/123/123_article_left_3.htm

There are some worrying parts of that article - particularly this:

"...It’s still hit and miss because although I’m doing the mileage, the sessions are not quite good enough. I really want to go but sometimes you can try too hard.

"...I’m doing all the mileage but it’s just not quite… on the long runs it’ll be good for an hour and a half and then bad for 45 minutes. But that’s better than three weeks ago when it was good for an hour and then really bad."

However, the fact that she has been talking to the press is a good sign. She had been eerily silent up until late, and I'm sure she has probably considered giving it a miss. But with Mikitenko dropping out, I reckon that'll give Radcliffe the incentive to give it a bash. If she goes into Berlin with her Beijing-type fitness, it's still dodgy ground. But if she is able to get to the fitness that she had in New York (still not 100% but decent), then that might just be enough to win it.

but my guess is that paula's 'not quite good enough' is many people best session ever !!! if she stopped being do hard on herself and pushing herself so hard i don't think she'd have had so many injuries recently. did you notice how she managed to comletely misinterpret Constantinas advice :?

[Bruce Kritzler]

I'll take the field.
Figure someone will run low 2:2_ if good conditions, 2:25-7 if hot.

[K.I.R.]

When did Mikitenko run 2:15? 2:16? 2:17? :shock:

Or 2:18 for that matter.