Haining to consider Beijing plans

Paula Radcliffe's understudy for next month's Olympics, Hayley Haining, has admitted she is considering not travelling to the Beijing Games.

The Scot is on standby if Radcliffe fails to overcome a stress fracture in her left thigh in time to compete.

UK Athletics will give the 34-year-old until the day before the event before making a decision, leaving Haining in an awkward position.

"I will have to think long and hard before going," she told the Guardian.

The 36-year-old combines training for the marathon with a busy full-time job as a clinical pathologist at the Glasgow Veterinary School.

She added: "Work have been supportive and understanding about the whole thing. It is a case of time will tell.

606: DEBATE
Will Paula be fit in time to run in Beijing?
"I cannot say either way.

"I will be speaking to my coach and (UK Athletics' performance manager) Alan Storey and, if it came down to that, I would have to make an informed decision.

"If Paula is confident of getting there (being fit), I would not need to go.

"She is a unique athlete and, when you look at everything she has done, and she has had a lot of injuries in the past, I guess she has a lot of experience to get things together under pressure."

Radcliffe has admitted she faces a race against time to fit for Beijing, but has been named in UK Athletics' squad for the Games.

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