Team GB legend Paula Radcliffe finished the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday 2nd March; her first marathon in a decade. She crossed the finish line in 2 hours 57 minutes and 26 seconds, ten years after her final event as a professional long-distance runner – the 2015 London Marathon.
Paula Radcliffe – future Six Star Finisher?
The former world-record holder is planning to complete the World Marathon Majors this year, with her performance in Tokyo bringing her one step closer to that illustrious Six Star Finisher status. Her sights are now set on next month’s Boston Marathon.
Paula held the women’s marathon world record for 16 years, before it was broken by Brigid Kosgei in 2019. Her long-standing 2:15:25 record time would have proved a challenge for this year’s Tokyo winner, Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede, who finished in 2:16:31, retaining her win from last year.
A special guest appearance
It’s fantastic to see Paula back racing again and taking on the World Majors challenge. She wasn’t the only star spotted on the course, however – former One Direction star Harry Styles finished in 3:24:07, after reportedly nailing almost even splits throughout. Check out our favourite celebrity runners for more inspiration.
