Status: 2007 New York City Marathon winner.
Ht: 5-8 Wt: 118
Born On: December 17, 1973 In: Davenham, Cheshire, England
Inspirations: "Ingrid Kristiansen, Steve Cram a little bit. Liz McColgan as I got older. Just lots of people. I got inspiration from many people."
Hobbies/Interests: "I like traveling, I like visiting new places, I like trying out different foods and things. I like reading, spending time with family and friends."
Favorite Movies: "I can never remember them...what do I like? I like watching films but I can't name any [laughs]. Too many for me to go through."
Musical Tastes: "(Husband Gary says Eminem) No [laughing], he loves him. Who do I like to listen to? Robbie Williams, Dido, Shania Twain, really diverse groups, lots."
Early Racing Memory: "God, I've been racing since I was...when I first raced in a school cross-country race, I was second in the first run. Then I won the next one."
First Running Memory: "When I first started, I fell in love with running. I got involved with athletics at school. My dad used to run and I used to go and join him. I hooked up with the local athletics club when I was nine and running is always what I have enjoyed doing since.
Pre-Race Feeling: "Excited. I'm excited. looking forward to it. A little bit of anticipation."
Pre-Race Meal: "When I wake up - a banana and an energy bar. Then later a bowl of porridge."
Favorite Meal: "Sushi."
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: "Oats. (Put anything on it?) Honey and banana."
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "Oh god [laughs], depends what mood I'm in. I like cookies and cream. I like...(she asks her husband), What's that chocolate one? Funky Monkey or Chunky Monkey or something like that."
First Job: "My first job was as a marketing assistant in a chain of steakhouses, in 1994."
First Car: "Was a Volkswagen Polo. (Color?) Green."
Current Car: "BMW X5 (titanum color)."
Childhood Dreams: "I wanted to be a runner [laughs]. Yeah, I wanted to set a world record, be a runner."
Greatest Sports Moment: "So far, probably setting the world record in London (2:15:25 in April 2003 at the London Marathon)."
Most Painful Moment: "Athens. My Athens Olympic experience was definitely the most devastating and traumatic...that night was the worst of my life. And for a while it felt as though I would never get over it. My body hurt all over, but my heart was totally broken. (Paula DNF in both the Marathon and 10,000 meter events.)
Favorite Athletes To Watch: "In running? I like watching a lot of runners. I like the way Derarta Tulu runs, her style is really nice to watch. Kenenisa Bekele - the way he runs, it's amazing. (Sprinting?) My favorite sprinter...I like Darren Campbell - for the amount of emotion he puts into it [smiles]. (Boxing?) I like Muhammad Ali. (Tennis?) I really liked Steffi Graf. I like Justine Henin and Roger Federer. Agassi. Henman. I like watching tennis. (Soccer?) Liverpool."
Funny Racing Memory: "Oh god, lots of things made me laugh. So many things, that's what it's about...(Husband says, Your top, when it was see-through.) No it wasn't [laughing]!!! You're making it up! Yes you are [laughter]! ...Probably getting locked in the bathroom. I got locked, someone locked me in the bathroom as a kid at one of the relay races. So that was a funny memory."
Last Vacation: "We're going to spend a few days in New York after the Marathon, show our daughter the city."
People Qualities Most Admired: "Kindness. Compassion. Honesty. Honesty is very strong."
Family: Gary Lough; daughter, Isla.
Career Accomplishments: Hold the marathon world record, the three fastest recorded marathon times and world records in eight other distances; Has won seven of the eight marathons started; Two-time New York City Marathon winner (2004, 2007); Three-time London Marathon winner.
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Paula Radcliffe |
