I spent most of Sunday watching the Olympic Games again. I've taped most of the Olympic television coverage since 1984, but this time I declined. Too many tapes sitting in my VHS / DVD collection!
That said, I'll never forget that exciting women's marathon. I watched pre - race favorite Paula Radcliffe from Great Britain run the 5,000 when I went to the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Back then, Paula was 23, and just beginning to reach her prime years. She was outrun in the 5,000 final where she finished fifth.
Since that time, Radcliffe, who does not have a blistering finishing kick, has continued to find herself a bridesmaid but never the bride in big races. In World Championship or Olympic competition, she has a slew of second to fifth place finishes to her credit, but no victories. She does hold the world's best time for the women's marathon. In 2001, Paula took some lumps in the media for trying to campaign to keep the sport clean of athletes who compete in a pharmaceutically enhanced state.
I felt so sad for Paula when she broke down at 36 kilometers (22.4 miles) and quit the race. She appeared to be doing fine up to a few minutes before she stopped, but in the last minutes before she quit her form seemingly started to sag. I don't know whether the severe heat (90 degrees) or whether the harsh course, packed with hills is what got to her. She may have not had enough sleep in the nights before the Olympic marathon, or she may have simply knotted up under the pressure of being expected to bring home the gold.
Bill Rodgers, who I watched as a boy finish 40th at the Montreal Olympic marathon, said that the marathon will sooner or later humble you. And so it did to Paula at the most cruel of times.
I have run three marathons myself. In my first attempt, I went out too fast, hit the wall at 19 miles and failed to finish. In my second attempt, I was doing well but experienced bowel problems and had to stop twice. I finished in three hours, 12 - 15 minutes slower than my hoped for time. I finally came through in my third marathon and finished in 2:41. The moral of this story: Anything can and will go wrong in the marathon. No matter how talented you are and how hard you train, the marathon has the power to make a complete mockery of your wildest hopes and dreams.
You tried so hard, so please don't get down on yourself. This track fan from America says to you, Paula Radcliffe, keep your chin up and give us your winning smile!