Radcliffe's reserve in Beijng dilemma - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Radcliffe's reserve in Beijng dilemma

Paula Radcliffe's reserve Hayley Haining has admitted she is thinking "long and hard" about not going to the Olympics.

Haining is on standby to run in Beijing if Radcliffe fails to overcome a stress fracture in time to compete in the marathon.

However, with UK Athletics planning to give Radcliffe until the day before the race to prove her fitness, Haining may need to take a long time off work for a wasted journey.

"I will probably have to think long and hard before going out, and that might be a situation that will arise," said the Glasgow veterinary surgeon. "Work have been supportive and understanding about the whole thing. It is a case of time will tell. I cannot say either way at the moment."

Haining hopes that Radcliffe's fitness will become evident long before the event on 17 August to prevent an agonising decision.

"If Paula is confident of getting there fit, I would not need to go," she added.

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