Paula devastated over marathon agony

An emotional Paula Radcliffe said today that she is mystified as to why, despite her thorough preparations, she was unable to complete yesterday's marathon race.

Radcliffe, the world record holder and a firm favourite for Olympic gold, was in fourth place in yesterday's marathon when she had to withdraw just three miles from the finish line. The agony of leaving the race was immediately obvious to television audiences who saw Paula collapse by the roadside with her head in her hands.

Speaking on BBC television for the first time since yesterday's events, Ms Radcliffe said that conditions – it had been 33°C at the starting line – had not been a factor. Her trainers knew what to expect and how to prepare, she said.

The 30-year-old runner said that not being able to complete the course had left her "totally devastated", and she simply did not have an explanation as to why things went so drastically wrong.

"I'm struggling myself to comprehend what has happened and find a reason for it. I don’t really have an explanation. The conditions were tough, but I had prepared," she said.

"I don't think the heat was a factor. I got to a stage in the middle of the race where I had nothing in my legs. My mind just did not want to let go. People kept shouting at me to get going again, but I didn't know what to do."

Paula was checked over by a doctor immediately after the race. She is still awaiting the results of medical tests.

Paula Radcliffe is an aggressive competitor and typically prefers to set the pace. However, she was unable to kick away from the leading pack and when Mizuki Noguchi – the Japanese competitor who went on to win the race – stepped up a gear, Paula could not find the extra reserves of strength to go with her.

She said: "I felt good in the first part. I intended to put in the effort and felt good on top of the hills. I had stomach problems at the 15km mark and a bad stage when two other girls broke away from me. I felt better when I got back into second and believed that the gap was not too big if I could hold it together. Then I was running off the side of the road and hitting the bumps. It wasn't like any part of me was hurting; all of me was."

Ms Radcliffe is entered for the 10,000 metres but it is still not clear whether she will choose to compete.

"It is not a decision I will make today. I came to run and win the Marathon. It's hard to think. I am desperate to redeem something from all that work. But I will not put myself into that arena if I am not right," she said.

It has been reported that the race time was switched to the hotter evening start for the benefit of US broadcasters. Marathons are usually raced in the morning – and Paula Radcliffe had lobbied strongly for a morning start.

(gmcg)