Meanwhile, Back In Beijing...

Okay, so all my whining looks pathetic compared to this:

Paula Radcliffe leaves marathon decision to last minute

The world record-holder has defied medical advice by continuing to train while recovering from a stress fracture of her left femur that was only diagnosed in May, but she will be given all the time she needs before finally committing herself to a punishing 26.2 miles in stifling heat.

"If Paula thinks that she can perform, and the signs are that she is going to perform, then why wouldn't we give her the time and space?" said Dave Collins, the UK Athletics performance director.

"My responsibility is to put the best team out. I'm sure if you asked Sir Alex Ferguson, he would probably be looking right up to kick-off to find out whether he could play a certain player if there was a doubt about his fitness... It's no different here."

Radcliffe will check into the Team GB pre-Games camp in Macaa, 12 days before she is due to race on Aug 17, and will be under close scrutiny from coaches and medical staff alike.

Although her bone has now healed, a big question mark still hangs over how much fitness she has lost in the recovery period. She has always insisted that she would not race unless she felt she could do herself justice.

Never one to do anything by halves, she will be accompanied in Macau by "Team Radcliffe" to support her during her race against time to be fit, with husband Gary, 18-month-old daughter, Isla, her parents to help out with child-care duties and her physical therapist, Gerard Hartmann.

Collins said seeing Radcliffe on the start line would be an inspiration for the rest of the team: "I remember Steve Backley in Atlanta coming off an operation on an injury at very short notice and achieving a medal. The marathon has its own special challenges, but Paula is an athlete of quality and proven experience."

By Simon Hart in Macau