Paula’s f inal marathon... as Romeo runs his first
PAULA Radcliffe’s final competitive marathon was always going to be one to remember.
But it was made extra special when she was presented with a lifetime achievement award by Prince Harry.
He was waiting for the women’s world record holder – along with her husband Gary Lough and children Isla, eight, and Raphael, four – at the end of the 26.2-mile London course.
The 41-year-old athlete was not the only one to turn yesterday’s race – believed to the biggest in its 35-year history – into a family affair. Cheering among an esti- mated 750,000 spectators were David and Victoria Beckham, supporting their 1 2 - ye a r- o l d son Romeo.
Mrs Beckham, 41, teamed a black leather jacket, tight jeans and high-heeled ankle boots with a white T- shirt bearing the slogan ‘Team Romeo’.
Her husband, 39, son Brooklyn, 16, and Cruz, ten, all wore identical T-shirts to watch Romeo finish the three-mile children’s marathon in 18 minutes and 54 seconds. Brooklyn posted a picture of his brother on Instagram and wrote that he had raised £6,000 for Aids charity UNAIDS and his father’s Unicef 7 fund.
Miss Radcliffe, who finished in two hours, 36 minutes and 55 seconds, said meeting Prince Harry was a highlight. ‘He said well done and … was chatting to my kids, which really made their day and is something they will remember forever. There were so many people out there on the route. It did get really emotional on Birdcage Walk because as much as my body wanted it to finish I didn’t ever want it to end.’
Organisers said 38,020 raced this year, beating the previous record of 37,227 three years ago.