Paula Radcliffe
I don't like going away from my children.
Running gives me a lot of pleasure. It's something I'll always do, as long as I can.
I never plan to run at a certain pace. All my career my motto has been 'no limits.' I don't try to run with a set time in mind, sticking to set splits, because what happens if you're ahead of your splits - are you going to slow down?
I've no desire to do one of those 50-mile races like the Comrades or anything like that.
I prefer to be in tune with my surroundings and to be aware of things. I like listening to my foot strike and my breathing. It can be quite soothing.
When you get close to race day, there's that anticipation and excitement - it's the same whatever level you're running at because the marathon is like a festival.
People are lying when they say that their record being broken is good for the development of the event. I would like mine to remain as long as possible, please.
Today was not about times, it was about getting in there, enjoying the race, and enjoying the atmosphereCollection: Running
Go in any direction..seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.Collection: Running
You can't become a winner overnight, or even in a couple of years-it takes time... You will lose races and you will have to accept that, learn from it and believe that you'll win the next one, knowing that you'll probably lose that as well. All the time you have to keep believing that one day you will win.Collection: Running
As an athlete, there are advantages being with a team and getting regular physio...Collection: Team
I start planning then that's dangerous because then I have a target that I'm blinkered towards and I won't listen to the warning signs quite so much. I'd rather be in shape and then look around and say there's a race next week and jump into that than have it planned.Collection: Race
Doing the long endurance stuff seems to have given me the strength to sustain the speed. I think my body is just a lot stronger (thanks to the marathon)... By increasing the long runs, I found that does not take anything away from the speed but increases the strength on the track.Collection: Running
I've always been good at putting things behind me–I fall apart, do my crying bit, and then put it away and move on.Collection: Moving
The cheats always have a way of justifying their behaviour - everyone else is getting away with it, so why shouldn't I? But because they're so reliant on the drugs - and the drugs are not always perfect, you're not guaranteed to peak at a big event - they don't have the confidence to look in the mirror and know that they can go out and give their best. If you're clean and you've prepared well for a race, that's where you have an edge.Collection: Giving
It's good to be back, feeling like myself and enjoying it.Collection: Feelings
A half marathon is a good way to have a bit of fun and race against those girls and learn a bit more about them.The world half marathon is a world championship at the end of the day and it's important. I've win it twice and it's a quality event.Collection: Girl
I was glad I did a year abroad, because it helped me as an athlete and as a person. That took me out of my comfort zone. Watching the French athletes train in the Pyrenees made me realise what I had to do to become a top athlete.Collection: Athlete
I felt totally myself, nothing like the emptiness and horrible feeling I had then [pulling out the Olympics] - no dizziness.Collection: Feelings
I don't really have an explanation. I'm struggling myself to comprehend what has happened and find a reason for it.Collection: Struggle
I was thinking back to all the time in the gym, working hard, and that spurred me on [winning New York marathon just ten months after giving birthCollection: New York
I think your body is just a little bit stronger after pregnancy.Collection: Pregnancy
I deliberately returned slowly to training after Raphael was born and everything, apart from being bitten by a dog while out training in Monaco at the beginning of the year, has gone pretty well.Collection: Dog
The Olympics is not a race I want to watch on television and think 'I wonder what I could have done if I was there?Collection: Thinking
I used to say that the newspapers were tomorrow's fish and chip paper, but I didn't really mean it; I could still be hurt by what they said. After Athens, I just didn't care.Collection: Hurt
We, as athletes, have our suspicions about who's cheating, but I'm not convinced that the testing has yet caught up with what people are using or what they are using to disguise it.Collection: Cheating