Partridge has sights on London Marathon

Either for breaking records or an impromptu toilet break, Radcliffe has done more than anyone in fancy dress to elevate a sport that most fitness fanatics hope to one day conquer.

Those who seek to follow in her footsteps will take to the streets of London tomorrow for the latest instalment of the city’s marathon.

It is a big day for many, and none more so than Susan Partridge who has foregone the superhero costume to give her London Olympic bid one last shot.

The 32-year-old Scotswoman, who has lived in Leeds for the last eight years, has steadily been building up a successful repertoire of marathon times.

She is one of around six women hoping to complete Great Britain’s three-woman line-up for this year’s Olympic marathon.

Radcliffe has already been pre-selected after recording a time of two hours 23 minutes in Berlin last year. And the second spot has already gone to Mara Yamauchi who stopped the clock at 2hrs 27mins this year and also finished sixth in Beijing four years ago.

The qualifying mark tomorrow is 2hrs 31mins.

“I have an outside chance,” said Partridge, whose personal best is 2hr 34mins.

“I’ve been training for this for months and I’m in quite good shape, but I’m quite apprehensive at the same time.

“Knowing I’m prepared as best I can puts pressure on your tactics.”

What heartens Partridge is her recent form. She has run the fastest half marathon of the year by any Briton and did so in a time nearly a minute quicker than anyone.

More can go wrong in the tactical battle that is a full 26-mile marathon but Partridge remains quietly confident in her abilities.

“I need to take a chunk off of my personal best but I’m running better than ever before,” says the athlete who has contested marathons at world, Commonwealth and European Championships.

“Marathon’s are about tactics. You’ve got to be disciplined not to go for it too much in the first half. It’s about going for it enough to still have plenty left in the tank to record a slightly better split time in the second half of the race.

“So it will be a nervy London Marathon. Jo Pavey is in pole position to get the final spot but is not running the marathon, so it’s up to me and a handful of others to try and get the third spot.”

As for London 2012, which would be her first Olympics and is often a target aspiring Olympians try not to think too much about, Partridge allows herself to look ahead to what might be.

“It helps me with motivation,” said Partridge, who works at the University of Leeds.

“If you picture yourself at the Olympics then it inspires you. I’m not allowing myself to get too carried away.

“But I do think about where I’m trying to get to because this Olympics is like no other, in your home country in front of friends and family. It’s such a rare opportunity.

“And if I run as well as I can on Sunday I’ll have a chance.”