• London Olympics 2012

Radcliffe to return to action in Manchester

ESPN staff
March 17, 2011
Paula Radcliffe has not raced since November 2009 © Getty Images
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Paula Radcliffe will kick-start her preparations for London 2012 at the Great Manchester Run in May.

The world marathon record holder has not competed in 16 months following the birth of her second child Raphael, who was born in September.

Radcliffe returned to training in December, and has been training at attitude in New Mexico, but will return to the UK for the 10 kilometre event on May 15.

She is targeting her first marathon since the 2009 New York City Marathon later this year, where she will hope to achieve qualification for the London Olympics.

"It will great to get back to racing after such a lengthy period away and I'm excited, particularly as it is finally happening on home soil," Radcliffe said. "The Great Manchester Run is a high-profile event on the world road-running circuit and I'm sure it will be a testing comeback for me, having seen the list of high-profile past winners."

Radcliffe has previously admitted she returned to racing too soon after the birth of her daughter Isla in January 2007 and struggled with injuries in the build-up to the Beijing Olympics, and she is pleased with her progress.

"I deliberately returned slowly to training after Raphael was born and everything, apart from being bitten by a dog whilst out training in Monaco at the beginning of the year, has gone pretty well," she said.

"Starting my comeback with a 10km race is ideal as I build up later in the year to achieving the marathon standard, and I'm confident of what I have to achieve in the build up to London 2012."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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