I've had to turn the telly off. I couldn't bear to watch Paula Radcliffe in that much despair. After all she's been through and all she has achieved I can't imagine the pain she must have been feeling to make herself stop. But I'm glad she did: I'd rather she stop than come fourth again. I saw her run in London, she's an extraordinary athelete and I just hope she can get over it. She's still a hero to me.

Must give 'nuff respect (to quote Linford Christie) to the Japanese winner Mizuki Noguchi. To burn everyone off going up hill, in that heat and then have enough to hang on till the finish is quite incredible. I hope after this she will spend her days in quiet contemplation, perhaps with the monks on Mount Hiei.