Radcliffe still aiming for 2012 Olympics

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LONDON (AFP) - Paula Radcliffe is adamant her recent injury problems will not be a bar to her ambition of winning the 2012 Olympic marathon in London.

The British distance runner, who turns 36 in December, is set to run next weekend in the New York marathon after a frustrating spell on the sidelines.

Radcliffe, a former world marathon champion, has endured nothing but Olympic heartbreak despite her success in other events, finishing down the field in 23rd place in Beijing last year after failing to complete the course at the 2004 Games in Athens.

She withdrew from the World Championships in Berlin earlier this year with injury and missed the world half marathon with tonsillitis.

But Radcliffe told BBC Radio Five's Sportsweek on Sunday: "My intention is totally to be there in 2012, to be on that team competing in an amazing opportunity at the Olympics.

"That is definitely written in there and hopefully the family will be there supporting me and cheering me on."

Radcliffe, who will be 38 in 2012, said she would have to be "smart" if she was going to be fit enough to compete at the London Games. But she stressed she enjoyed running as much now as when she was a teenager.

"After this year and the races I've had to miss out on I'm just going to be extremely grateful to be there (in New York) and just really looking forward to running really well."

Asked how close she was to peak performance, Radcliffe said: "Very close, otherwise I wouldn't be going. I'm pleased with how the training has gone.

"I was really frustrated that I came down with the tonsilitis and couldn't race in the world half marathon championships but I'm really happy with how the training has gone and I wouldn't be putting myself on the line if I didn't think that I could go (to New York) and win it.

"I really enjoy racing. It is something I love doing. Getting the chance to do that and to prolong my career for as long as possible is what I really want to do."

Radcliffe added: "The hard thing I'm finding now is that my body is nearly 36 but my mind still feels like it did when I was 18 and probably will still always feel like that so I just have to be more sensible about how I do the training and the recovery."