“I’m still hopeful Paula will see this as a celebration, a chance to run in front of her country, and if she has a good day, she can win or get a medal,” said Mary Wittenberg, director of the New York City Marathon. “Being out there, to me that’s victory in itself. I hope one day she’ll look back on it all and feel good about it. But greatness comes out of daring. There are signs it could be painful again. It’s fair to be concerned. You don’t want her to go through the emotional pain she had after Athens.”

If she does not have an Olympic medal, Radcliffe said, she does have newfound perspective. She described the London Games as something to be embraced, inspiring instead of intimidating.

“It’s probably sad that for a lot of people, my career will be assessed by whether or not I have an Olympic medal,” Radcliffe said. “But for me, I actually think I’ve got to the point where, yes, I really, really want one, but I’m not going to think the whole thing was a waste if I don’t get it. I look at my career and I’m grateful I’ve had a chance to achieve a lot. The most important thing is, both of my kids are healthy.”

After the Athens Games, Radcliffe said, she spoke with Sally Gunnell, the British Olympic champion in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1992 Barcelona Games, a bronze medalist in the 4x400-meter relay and a mother of three boys.

“I know it seems really bad now,” Gunnell told Radcliffe, “but I would swap my Olympic medals for my sons, and you will get to that point.”

At first, Radcliffe said, “I didn’t believe her.”

But upon having her own children, Radcliffe said, “you totally believe that, at the end of the day, sport is a hobby and there are many more important things going on.”

History does provide her some encouragement for London. The reigning women’s Olympic marathon champion, Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania, won in Beijing at age 38. So it can be done. All that Radcliffe seeks, Lough said, is to reach the starting line in London free of injury and disruption to her training.

“All she wants is a chance to be healthy and prepare properly,” Lough said. “If she’s good enough, she’s good enough; if she’s not, she’s not.”