What we can learn from Paula.

Paula Radcliffe is one of my favourite sports people, she became the first English athlete that Irish people genuinely cheered for, first because we loved how Sonia O'Sullivan used to always pass her on the final lap, but then because of her astonishing bravery and persistance through so many fourth places and near misses.

She was magnificent again in London last Sunday, now the finest female athlete to ever run the marathon. Her book "Paula" is well worth a read for anyone who has ever felt the pain of underachievement, it's a great example of how belief and persistance can overcome adversity, she has battled through the pain of many fourth places, the pain of olympic failure in athens, the pain of regularly missing out just when the gold is in sight, and she has come through on the other side, again and again.

I'm not that pushed about whether Ireland wins many medals in the Bejing games in 2008, in fairness if our sailing team won a medal now they'd have to check for a hidden engine! but i know one thing, when it comes to the marathon I'll be up all night, cheering Paula and hopefully Sonia around the course. And if they are together entering the stadium, I'll be willing them both across the line.