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Haile v's Paula...didn't exactly go to plan. Should Paula retire...

  • 16-04-2012 12:06pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,090 ✭✭✭


    Vienna race: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/17715541. Interesting concept for a race too - Haile v Paula, shame it didn't go to plan.


    After her disastrous half, there has been lots of calls for Paula to retire prior to the Olympics and let some younger athlete have a go.

    Is she right to keep going and try for that elusive Olympic medal? Personally I would love to see her win any medal at this stage.


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,199 ✭✭✭G-Money


    I think she should still compete. She had bronchitis a week or two ago so I'm not surprised she didn't run well.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,983 ✭✭✭TheRoadRunner


    A few things need to be considered her, firstly
    The women's marathon world-record holder has not been in the best of health in the last fortnight, tweeting on Friday that she was relieved to have made it to Vienna after a bout of bronchitis and pleurisy.

    she probably shouldn't have raced in my view

    secondly
    The thing that worries me is that I did not feel myself out there while running. The danger is that it affects my confidence for the London Olympics.

    somebody needs to have a word with her a put this race in perspective.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,643 ✭✭✭ThePiedPiper


    Why should she retire? She's still a 2.25 marathoner, earning huge paydays at the major races and easily qualifying for major championships. She'll probably never return to the glory days of sub 2.20 marathons and has probably only a small chance of an Olympic medal, but she obviously loves her sport.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,090 ✭✭✭shazkea


    Totally agree that it was silly to run this but I assume there was alot of pressure on her to do it due to the RD's pitting her against Haile. But it is an olympic year and that should be the focus not commercial races like yesterday...bad move imo.

    As I say I would love to see her run it and hopefully pick up a medal but this is the type of English media stirred crap that she has to put up with.
    Apologies for quoting that tabloid rubbish...

    Forgot to add there's a poll in another english rag asking this question...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭shels4ever


    Who is calling for her to retire? Ranked aprox 20 in the world last year,( if you take that only 6 from KEN and ETH will be there, its really a 9th ot 10th best come the olympics. I think she has earned the right to be on the start line. But I wouldn't like to see a distressed Paul running the last lap of the marathon this summer well down the field.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,029 ✭✭✭Pisco Sour


    shazkea wrote: »
    As I say I would love to see her run it and hopefully pick up a medal but this is the type of English media stirred crap that she has to put up with.
    Apologies for quoting that tabloid rubbish...

    Forgot to add there's a poll in another english rag asking this question...

    Cant believe morons like that are allowed write about athletics! Hitler? Really? :rolleyes:


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,147 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    She is 4 years younger than Dita who won the gold last time. She is still the fastest UK woman.

    If there was 20 other women with the qualifying time then maybe she should step aside, but for the London Olympics and with an easy qualification she should definitely be there.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭shels4ever


    robinph wrote: »
    She is 4 years younger than Dita who won the gold last time. She is still the fastest UK woman.

    If there was 20 other women with the qualifying time then maybe she should step aside, but for the London Olympics and with an easy qualification she should definitely be there.
    Plus there will only be 8 people on the startline with a faster time in 20011/12 than her. So if she can get into 2:22 shape she has every chance of a medal.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭shels4ever


    shazkea wrote: »
    Totally agree that it was silly to run this but I assume there was alot of pressure on her to do it due to the RD's pitting her against Haile. But it is an olympic year and that should be the focus not commercial races like yesterday...bad move imo.

    As I say I would love to see her run it and hopefully pick up a medal but this is the type of English media stirred crap that she has to put up with.
    Apologies for quoting that tabloid rubbish...

    Forgot to add there's a poll in another english rag asking this question...
    Does't sounds like something Halie would say :).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,090 ✭✭✭shazkea


    shels4ever wrote: »
    Does't sounds like something Halie would say :).

    :D, I know I laughed out loud when I read that - cracking article or wha :rolleyes:


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,090 ✭✭✭shazkea


    robinph wrote: »
    She is 4 years younger than Dita who won the gold last time. She is still the fastest UK woman.

    If there was 20 other women with the qualifying time then maybe she should step aside, but for the London Olympics and with an easy qualification she should definitely be there.

    I'd forgotten that, good point.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,199 ✭✭✭G-Money


    I get a kick out of reading the Daily Mail articles the odd-time, just to see what ridiculous story they will print next. I'm guessing they are not far off the "I had an alien's baby" exclusive soon :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 57,825 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    What is ridiculous about the Daily Mail article? I read it. Is there something inaccurate, untrue?


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,147 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    walshb wrote: »
    What is ridiculous about the Daily Mail article? I read it. Is there something inaccurate, untrue?

    It makes a change to actually be in agreement with the way the voting on the comments section is going. The votes so far are all +ve to the +ve comments towards Paula.

    Not got it on me at the moment, but the London Marathon magazine that came with out registration forms had several pages on the other contenders for the 3rd UK place. I think that only three of them have PB's of sub 2:30, and only 1 of those has done that recently. Mara's qualification time is something in the mid to late 2:20's I think. They all need to be putting in a good performance on Sunday to try and fight for the spot, but none of them are likely to beat Mara's time, let alone Paulas.

    Paula is probably the best chance of any of the six marathon medals on offer not going to a Kenyan or Ethiopian. Although with it being in London the weather is less likely to be as extreme as in most Olympic marathons so that probably makes it a bit more open for more people to post faster times than the usual case of whoever copes with the heat.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,029 ✭✭✭Pisco Sour


    robinph wrote: »
    Paula is probably the best chance of any of the six marathon medals on offer not going to a Kenyan or Ethiopian.

    I'd love to agree but I can't. Liliya Shobukhova would be a much safer bet than Paula.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,340 ✭✭✭TFBubendorfer


    robinph wrote: »
    She is 4 years younger than Dita who won the gold last time.

    Confusing statement here. Dita was 38 when she won gold in Bejing, the SAME age Paula Radcliffe is now (yes, I know that means she's 4 years younger)


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,147 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    Yep, I realised that line could be read wrong after I'd put it up. Figured a knowledgable and clever bunch of peeps that we are around here would know what I meant though. ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,545 ✭✭✭tunguska


    She just seems very fragile the last few years, both physically and mentally. I thought the run she had in berlin was a good return to form but 72mins is a bit of a shocker. Hopefully it was the bronchitiis though, she needs a least one really good run before london to boost her confidence. Would love to see her win a medal.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,932 ✭✭✭huskerdu


    I dont care whether she wins a medal, but I would love to see her at the starting line in good physical and mental shape, and hungry for a good race.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,817 ✭✭✭myflipflops


    She needs to get herself to the line fit, healthy and with as little media focus as possible. If she can do that, there is still a medal there. It looks like Shobukhova will be going into London without a warm up race after pulling out of Shamrock injured so cannot be sure of her fitness. After that, the lack of pacemakers make for an interesting situation against the Kenyans and Ethiopians.

    Comparison to Dita are a bit pointless. Dita was let get away from the pack in Beijing because she was not seen as a danger and she had a history of early breaks. Nobody is letting Racliffe get 2 minutes ahead off of a slow pack pace.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,320 ✭✭✭MrCreosote


    Radcliffe will run no doubt, but she should have retired 3 or 4 years ago. She seemed to cross the line from "pushing the limits" to "complete self-destruction" a long while ago. Beijing was the right time to stop. All the overuse injuries and emotional ups and downs are just sad to see at this stage. Especially with the ridiculous tabloid pressure on her.

    She will miss a sweet gig as commentator for the Olympics this year too.

    Having said that, I'm just as much a sucker for the hollywood ending as the next person, so if she's on the start line in August I'll be shouting for her


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,029 ✭✭✭Pisco Sour


    MrCreosote wrote: »
    Radcliffe will run no doubt, but she should have retired 3 or 4 years ago. She seemed to cross the line from "pushing the limits" to "complete self-destruction" a long while ago. Beijing was the right time to stop. All the overuse injuries and emotional ups and downs are just sad to see at this stage. Especially with the ridiculous tabloid pressure on her.

    She will miss a sweet gig as commentator for the Olympics this year too.

    Having said that, I'm just as much a sucker for the hollywood ending as the next person, so if she's on the start line in August I'll be shouting for her

    I hate this "she should retire" rubbish. Should I tell you to stop doing what you love because you are running poor times compared to what you used to? (hypotetical, I have no idea of your times). Nobody here has any right to say that Paula Radcliffe should retire. If she is still loving her running and is good enough to be in the Olympics, then why should she retire?

    Not every sport is like boxing where big egos need to be protected by "retiring at the top".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,320 ✭✭✭MrCreosote


    04072511 wrote: »
    I hate this "she should retire" rubbish. Should I tell you to stop doing what you love because you are running poor times compared to what you used to? (hypotetical, I have no idea of your times). Nobody here has any right to say that Paula Radcliffe should retire. If she is still loving her running and is good enough to be in the Olympics, then why should she retire?

    Not every sport is like boxing where big egos need to be protected by "retiring at the top".

    I didn't say she should retire this year- she's committed to the Olympics for better or worse. I meant she should have retired 3 or 4 years ago- if the Olympics weren't on in London my guess is that there's no doubt she wouldn't be competing. And it's not because of her times- let's face it, she's not been at the top since 2005.

    It's because of the injuries and bizarre decisions- stress fractures, calf injuries, competing while injured, competing while sick, emotional breakdowns. None of these suggest someone "enjoying their sport"- it's more like bulling through regardless of what your body is trying to tell you. And it's damaging to her long-term legacy, and I would argue her long-term earning capabilites too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 239 ✭✭ChickenTikka


    MrCreosote wrote: »
    Having said that, I'm just as much a sucker for the hollywood ending as the next person, so if she's on the start line in August I'll be shouting for her

    And so will 10s of 1000s of others on the streets of London. I think she should most definitely run if healthy ... she will have huge local support the whole way around. That's bound to count for something mentally. For every stride she takes, hers will be the only name she hears the crowd calling. Even if she doesn't win a medal in it, its going to be a huge event for her and the crowd. So of course she should run it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,199 ✭✭✭G-Money


    I hope she keeps running for as long as she is fit, healthy and most importantly, enjoying it. I hope the media get off her back and leave her alone so she can work on her training ahead of the Olympic marathon.

    I'd say she will get fantastic support from the crowds over there and I dare say there will be a fair few here supporting her as well. I hope she does really well.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 57,825 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    I like Paula, but I don't think mentally she has it now to win the gold, and really, I would rather not have to watch another breakdown if she fails, and suffers during the run.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,047 ✭✭✭Itziger


    I think Creosote has a few good points actually. Paula has been making poor decisions about races and come backs and what not for a few years now. It seems to be one thing or another. She's got into this vicious circle of injuries/sicknesses and losing confidence. I feel sorry for her and I'm sure no top athlete wants our pity. Unless she's 100% fit and healthy, I can see London ending in tears. LOTS.

    As for who's putting the pressure on her? I don't know, but it seems a mixture of herself, her camp and the British media.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,932 ✭✭✭huskerdu


    Itziger wrote: »
    I think Creosote has a few good points actually. Paula has been making poor decisions about races and come backs and what not for a few years now. It seems to be one thing or another. She's got into this vicious circle of injuries/sicknesses and losing confidence. I feel sorry for her and I'm sure no top athlete wants our pity. Unless she's 100% fit and healthy, I can see London ending in tears. LOTS.

    As for who's putting the pressure on her? I don't know, but it seems a mixture of herself, her camp and the British media.

    I agree.
    I am sure she puts herself under a lot of pressure and the British Media have been very guilty of this in the past.

    A few weeks before the Athens Olympics, I read an article in the Observer where the journalist was being very negative about the UK athletic team and stated that it was possible that Paula's medal might be the only one they got. I was livid when I read it, but how wrong they were. I wonder did Kelly Holmes read it.....


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,983 ✭✭✭TheRoadRunner


    04072511 wrote: »
    I hate this "she should retire" rubbish.

    Me too. You're a long time retired. Might as well keep going as long as you can.
    MrCreosote wrote: »
    I meant she should have retired 3 or 4 years ago- if the Olympics weren't on in London my guess is that there's no doubt she wouldn't be competing

    I heard an interview with her on the BBC and she more or less said that this was the case.
    MrCreosote wrote: »
    And it's damaging to her long-term legacy, and I would argue her long-term earning capabilites too.

    Would have to disagree here, if anything she is raking in the cash at the moment as recent years have been such a drama.
    walshb wrote: »
    I like Paula, but I don't think mentally she has it now to win the gold, and really, I would rather not have to watch another breakdown if she fails, and suffers during the run.

    I'm with you. As much as I'd love to see her win a medal I don't think it will happen. I'd love to be proven wrong. A top 6 would be a great achievement. Regardless I hope she runs to her current ability, some swan song if she runs well with the crowd behind her. That's the way to go out, on your own terms in front of your home crowd


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 57,825 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    I'm with you. As much as I'd love to see her win a medal I don't think it will happen. I'd love to be proven wrong. A top 6 would be a great achievement. Regardless I hope she runs to her current ability, some swan song if she runs well with the crowd behind her. That's the way to go out, on your own terms in front of your home crowd

    Yes, love to see her give a good go, do well, finish well and accept it. I just don't want to see a breakdown because maybe someone passes here, or she slips out of the top 5 or something. A top ten finish for Paula at this stage in her career would be very good.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭shels4ever


    walshb wrote: »
    Yes, love to see her give a good go, do well, finish well and accept it. I just don't want to see a breakdown because maybe someone passes here, or she slips out of the top 5 or something. A top ten finish for Paula at this stage in her career would be very good.
    Well based on her form last year a top 6-7 should be possible depending how the race goes. But i'd prob expect an all or nothing run from her to be honest just cant see her going out at a safe pace and finishing strong she will be in the mix from the start.


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