European Athletics (EAA) – News – Britain’s Pavey hoping the London Marathon paves the way to the Olympics

A good performance from a local runner always helps the profile of an event so many eyes are on what the seasoned British international Jo Pavey can do in the 2011 Virgin London Marathon on Sunday.

It will be the 37-year-old’s debut over the classic distance but she has plenty of credentials which suggest that it could be a highly successful first outing.

She has made 5000m and 10,000m finals at the last three Olympic Games and can also point to finishing fourth over the longer distance at the 2007 World Championships.

Pavey has also finished fifth and fourth at the 2002 and 2006 European Athletics Championships and can boast of an impressive personal best of 68:53 over the half marathon distance.

Her only honour from a major international championship was a bronze at the 2004 SPAR European Cross Country Championships but she has been a remarkably consistent performer at the highest level.

In the absence of the injured Mara Yamauchi, who was second in the 2009 race but is currently sidelined while she recovers from a hamstring injury, many pundits are suggesting that Pavey may be the most highly placed British runner in this year’s race.

“I have tried to prepare the best I can although I know I still have a lot to learn about training for a marathon," reflected Pavey.

"I always knew that with running a 1500m, I could feel ill or a bit off and yet still run a fast time but you won't get away with that in a marathon. On race day everything has to be right to have a good performance.

"You have to be 100 per cent and in that sense Sunday's race is a daunting thought for me. At the same time it is also exciting to be doing something new after so many years in the sport," she added.

Pavey is a noted front runner on the track but is expected to adopt more conservative tactics in the marathon as she bids to run under the time of two hours 31minutes set by UK Athletics as the qualifying mark for next year’s Olympic Games in London.

"I want to be competitive and run fast and with the Olympic qualifying time in mind I have a set of splits in mind that I will looking to achieve," said Pavey.

"There are risks going for a fast time but I would love to get that qualifying mark at my first attempt."

"Taking drinks on board is vital and I have talked to a lot of people about that but it is something that is difficult to practice and totally different from doing it in training and races.

"It is something really new to me and that makes me nervous. I find it nerve-wracking to grab my drink, get the fluid in and at the same time not lose any ground to the other runners. I have to make sure I get it right on the day," added Pavey, for the first time sounding a little apprehensive about what lies in store for her around the British capital but echoing what the majority of the 36,000-plus runners on Sunday will be feeling.

European Athletics (EAA) – News