Beaming Radcliffe still burned by Olympic frustration

By Larry Fine

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Paula Radcliffe was beaming after winning her third New York City marathon in commanding style on Sunday yet admitted to feeling frustrated by her two Olympic disappointments.

The 34-year-old Briton successfully defended her New York crown by finishing a gaping one minute, 47 seconds ahead of runner-up Ludmila Petrova of Russia.

It was her eighth win in nine marathons she has completed.

Radcliffe's dominant, front-running triumph followed on the heels of her 23rd place finish at the Beijing Games, where injuries hampered her preparations.

"It does make it frustrating because you think why can I get it right all the time in New York and I can't get it right there (at the Games)," she told reporters.

"But sometimes you have to take what life deals you, I guess, and just do the best that you can."

The Briton's best on a cool, windy day in New York was far better than anyone else in the women's field.

Leading from start to finish with much of the race into a strong wind, Radcliffe set a steady rhythm before picking up her pace in the last six miles for a runaway victory to add to her 2004 and 2007 wins.

THIRD REVIVAL

The emphatic triumph marked the third time Radcliffe had experienced a revival in New York.

Her 2004 win came after she dropped out during the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon, and last year the Briton was returning from a two-year absence during which she had her first child.

"They're all different and they're all very special in their own right," she said when asked to rate her New York wins.

"I think in 2004 it was very key for me to come here and to really enjoy the race. I came away really happy, back enjoying my running and not in the real low down that I experienced after Athens.

"I think last year it showed me that I appreciated winning and just running a whole lot more because we had (baby) Isla in our lives. So that was kind of special to me to get back to racing after such a long break through the pregnancy.

"I think this year for it to be the third one," she said about becoming the only woman besides nine-times winner Grete Waitz of Norway to win the race more than twice.

(Editing by Rex Gowar)