Marathon runner Paula Radcliffe was influenced by her father, who was an amateur long distance runner, to take up long distance running at the age of seven. Even at this very young age, her resolve and determination was evident as despite suffering from asthma she just brushed aside the issue and hit the road with a vengeance.

As luck would have it Paula Radcliffe got a talented and dedicated coach in Alex Stanton and from then on there was no looking back. At the national level her first race was at the age of 12, where out of 600 girls she was placed 299^th. In the same race, one year later, she finished fourth. This was just the beginning of her astonishing triumphs she was to achieve later on in life.

 

Some major successes of Paula Radcliffe:

Stood 15^th in the World Junior Cross Country Championships in 1991

 

Ranked 1^st in the World Junior Cross Country Championships in 1992

 

3000 m in Seoul, South Korea, World Junior Championships – ranked 4^th

 

World Cross Country Championships in Spain – ranked 18^th

 

3000 m World Championships in Germany – ranked 7^th

 

World Cross Country Championships in England – ranked 18^th

 

5000 m World Championships in Sweden – ranked 5^th

 

3000 m IAAF Grand Prix Final in Monaco – ranked 4^th

 

World Cross Country Championships in South Africa – ranked 19^th

 

5000 m Olympic Games in USA – ranked 5^th

 

5000 m IAAF Grand Prix Final in Italy – ranked 4^th

 

World Cross Country Championships in Italy – ranked 2^nd

 

3000 m European Cup in Germany – ranked 3^rd

 

5000 m World Championships in Greece – ranked 4^th

 

5000 m IAAF Grand Prix Final in Japan – ranked 3^rd

 

World Cross Country Championships in Morocco – ranked 2^nd

 

5000 m European Cup in Russia – ranked 1^st

 

10000 m European Championships in Hungary – ranked 5^th

 

The list goes on. Here is an asthmatic Paula Radcliffe competing and winning against other athletes who, in all probability, do not have any such problems. It makes her achievement even more special as asthma primarily affects the breathing of a person and long distance running, if anything requires a very strong respiratory system.

 

To really appreciate Paula Radcliffe’s marathon feats let us see what asthma is.

 

Asthma is a condition where the airways get inflamed. Due to this swelling, the passageway of the air is reduced leading to the air trying to force its way in during inhaling and trying to force its way out during exhaling. This causes laborious breathing (wheezing), shortness of breath, coughing and tightness in the chest.

 

Asthma Symptoms:

 

• Cough with or without phlegm

 

• Shortness of breath which worsens with exercise or exertion

 

• Wheezing sound while breathing

 

• Tightness in chest

 

• Chest pain

 

• Unusual breathing pattern

 

• Temporary stoppage of breathing

Emergency Asthma Symptoms:

 

• Severe drowsiness or confusion during an asthma attack

 

• Increased pulse

 

• Lips and face turning blue

 

• Labored breathing

 

• Sweating

 

Some Asthma Triggers:

 

• Dust

 

• Changes in weather (particularly cold weather)

 

• Animals

 

• Chemicals in food or in the air

 

• Exercising

 

• Respiratory infections

 

• Pollen

 

• Tobacco smoke

 

• Stress

 

What asthma does is it affects the basics of living and that is breathing. Its triggers are present everywhere. The slightest contact with any of the triggers and breathing becomes a monumental task. And what is Paula Radcliffe’s vocation? Running, running and more running – right into all the triggers of asthma. And to top it, she has exercise-induced asthma, yet she has conquered asthma.

 

In Paula Radcliffe’s own words “control your asthma, do not let it control you.” Spoken like a true champion.