Michael Phillips
Thursday October 4, 2007
The Guardian

Paula Radcliffe made up her mind to run in next month's New York marathon in the unlikely setting of a traffic jam on the A1. As road works in Darlington held up the women's world record holder on her way home after the Bupa Great North Run on Sunday, the disappointment of failing to win her comeback race was too much for her competitive spirit.

"We made up our minds a lot longer than before we made it home," Radcliffe said yesterday. After finishing second on Sunday to end a 21-month absence from competition, Radcliffe realised she could not wait to run again. "I was disappointed to lose and I am fired up."