Radcliffe steps up training

Paula Radcliffe was increasing the intensity of her training in Athens this morning as she moved closer to making a decision about whether to run in Friday night’s 10,000metres final.

She is giving serious consideration to the possibility of tackling the race in the wake of Sunday’s marathon disappointment, when she opted to pull out of the race after 22 miles through fatigue.

Although Radcliffe was exhausted after her tribulations, and openly wept both on live television and at a press conference on Monday afternoon, she has not ruled out racing on Friday.

She holds the fastest time in the world this year over 10,000m and Great Britain athletics team leader Max Jones revealed that Radcliffe is continuing to mull over her options.

“Paula still hasn’t decided,” said Jones.

“She’s again gone for a a run this morning and it will be a tougher one than yesterday.

“We’ll have to see how she’s feeling in the next couple of days.”

Technically Radcliffe can leave a decision about competing until one hour before the start of the event, but she is likely to make her intentions known much earlier.