Paula Radcliffe joins members of the Bees Academy at Hackney Marshes Leisure Centre in London February 11, 2022
PAULA RADCLIFFE has retired from road racing after securing the Six Star Medal upon completing the Boston Marathon.
Radcliffe, 51, finished Monday’s race with a time of 2 hours 53 minutes 44 seconds, placing her 117th out of 12,447 women that took part.
The four-time British Olympian received the Six Star Medal given to runners who complete all six world marathon majors — Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City — and then announced it would be her final event on the road.
Writing on Instagram, Radcliffe said: “Wow, thank you Boston. My calf went at nine miles and I couldn’t go full out from then on, but on the plus side the foot is great and I got to savour and enjoy those Boston Marathon crowds.
“Pain was so worth it for that Six Star Medal, especially getting from one of my biggest idols in Joanie [1984 Olympic marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson]. And apart from the calves I feel good afterwards.
“More memories completed and that symmetry from March 1992 WXC [Junior World Cross Country Championships] to today is complete.
“That’s me signing out on the roads now! Lesson learned that my body is done with that.”
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