I'm fresh but under-prepared, says Radcliffe

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LONDON (Reuters) - Paula Radcliffe is feeling fresh and healthy for the Beijing Olympic marathon but is still concerned about her injured leg.

Radcliffe, who holds the women’s marathon world record but has never won an Olympic medal, admits she is under-prepared but says she is in better shape than at the 2004 Games when she failed to finish despite being among the favourites.

"I’d rather go into the race healthy and a little bit under-prepared than in the shape I was in 2004 but just not healthy and not well enough to endure the race," Radcliffe told BBC Radio.

"I’ll be the freshest on the start line for sure and I think I’ll probably be one of the happiest to be there because there have been those points when I really didn’t think I would make it," she added.

Specialists had said the stress fracture to Radcliffe’s left femur would make it impossible for her compete in Beijing, but the 34-year-old has been cross-training hard and pushing her body to the limit.

"The only reason I wouldn’t be able to finish would be if my leg couldn’t handle it but I’ve been encouraged by what it’s handled coming out here," she said.

"I have tested it and pushed it," she said, adding that her injured leg was now "coping with good amounts of running".

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(Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Ed Osmond)