One Tough Mother

Tim Layden

November 12, 2007

Between the birth of her daughter, Isla, in January and a stress fracture in her lower back in May, Paula Radcliffe had not raced a marathon in over two years. It took the British world-record holder five minutes at the New York City Marathon on Sunday to prove she hasn't lost a step. After a 5:42 first mile, Radcliffe, 33, broke up the pack with a 4:59 second mile. By mile three, it was just Radcliffe (right) and her longtime rival Gete Wami, of Ethiopia. Wami took the lead with 700 yards left, holding it for three seconds before Radcliffe blew her away to win with a time of 2:23:09. Comparing the pain of childbirth to that of the marathon, she dismissed her 27 hours of labor as "more frustration than pain," and said she feels better than ever. Of the eight marathons Radcliffe has raced, she has won seven. Says Radcliffe, "This is my territory."