Reality Used To Be A Friend Of Mine

The UK public expected Paula Radcliffe to win the Olympic marathon. The UK public have not run a marathon in the conditions Paula was expected to excel in. My first London Marathon was in 1996 and the temperatue was in the mid-20s at the finish. I thought I was perfectly prepared after a winter of running mile after mile, but when the reality of an excessively warm April day hit I was ready to give up 7 miles into the race. I will cast no stones as I was found wanting and Paula was obviously up for it.