Paula's London run to end nightmare

Paula Radcliffe will attempt to put her Olympic nightmare behind her with a comeback run through the streets of London next month.

It was announced today that Radcliffe, who was forced to drop out of both the marathon and the 10,000metres in Athens before the finish, will make her first appearance in a competitive race since the Games in the Nike 10km event on 28 November.

The race will take place in the evening for the first time and Radcliffe will join an expected 30,000-strong field in a new version of the four-year-old event which will start at Surrey Quays before crossing Tower Bridge and finishing in Southwark Park.

Radcliffe has enjoyed the best moments of her career in the London Marathon.

But the Bedford athlete admitted last month that her Olympic experience had left her morale at rock bottom and there were suggestions that she might not race again before next year.

But, now back in training, Radcliffe talked positively today about her return to action for an event which is set to take place in completely different conditions from the energy-sapping heat of the Greek capital.

She said: "After Athens it will be a real joy to come back to the capital and run again for the first time with all the support that London gives. I have received some amazing support there in the past and am really looking forward to it.

"Running at night will be a real change and training in the build-up to the race will be nice to get out in the evenings. Running with 30,000 people at night time is going to be an experience for them and me. I have run some good times in the past at this event especially breaking the UK record in 2002. Who knows? This year could be another opportunity for a record." She added: "The course is going to look spectacular to those running and also anyone watching it, with all the London landmarks that we'll be passing, Tower Bridge in particular.'