Paula Radcliffe ends career with 2:36 marathon

After years of injury, Paula Radcliffe made a return to competitive running in this years London Marathon to finish in an impressive time of 2:36:55. The World record holder who is now  41 years old holds 4 of the 10 fastest marathon times ever.

All-time women's best marathon

1      2:15:25    Paula Radcliffe                GBR     17.12.73    1      London                   13.04.2003
2      2:17:18    Paula Radcliffe                GBR     17.12.73    1      Chicago                  13.10.2002
3      2:17:42    Paula Radcliffe                GBR     17.12.73    1      London                   17.04.2005
4      2:18:37    Mary Keitany                   KEN     18.01.82    1      London                   22.04.2012
5      2:18:47    Catherine N'dereba             KEN     21.07.72    1      Chicago                  07.10.2001
6      2:18:56    Paula Radcliffe                GBR     17.12.73    1      London                   14.04.2002
7      2:18:58    Tiki Gelana                    ETH     22.10.87    1      Rotterdam                15.04.2012
8      2:19:12    Mizuki Noguchi                 JPN     03.07.78    1      Berlin                   25.09.2005
9     2:19:19    Irina Mikitenko                GER     23.08.72    1      Berlin                   28.09.2008
9     2:19:19    Mary Keitany                   KEN     18.01.82    1      London                   17.04.2011

What a great way to finish off her career when it looked as if she would never run again. Three years ago, she had surgery on her foot and here she is today with a time that is inside the qualifying time for the Rio Olympics.

The BBC have a short report HERE

Over Paula's career, one of the people she went to for injuries was physical therapist Gerard Hartmann from Limerick. There is an excellent interview on the Running Times website HERE