Running News Daily

British distance-running legend Paula Radcliffe has officially added another prestigious milestone to her extraordinary career after receiving the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) honour at Windsor Castle, recognising her outstanding services to sport.

The 52-year-old former marathon world record-holder was presented with the honour by the Prince of Wales, Prince William, during a royal investiture ceremony on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Her appointment had first been announced in the King's New Year Honours List in January.

Paula Radcliffe is now officially Paula Radcliffe OBE, marking another significant recognition for an athlete whose achievements have helped shape the history of women's distance running.

The honour represents a step up from the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) she received in 2002, a remarkable year in which she won the London Marathon, the Chicago Marathon and the European 10,000m title.

Just one year later, Radcliffe produced the performance that would define her place in marathon history.

At the 2003 London Marathon, she stormed to an astonishing 2:15:25, establishing a women's world record and becoming the first woman to break the 2:16 barrier. The record stood for 16 years before Kenya's Brigid Kosgei shattered it with 2:14:04 at the 2019 Chicago Marathon. Radcliffe's legendary performance remains the British national record.

Her dominance over the marathon distance was not limited to record-breaking performances. She accumulated seven World Marathon Majors victories during her career, winning the London Marathon three times, the New York City Marathon three times and the Chicago Marathon once.

Another defining achievement came at the 2005 World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland, where she captured the women's marathon gold medal in 2:20:57, adding a world championship title to her already impressive collection.

Radcliffe also established herself as one of Britain's greatest track and cross-country athletes, collecting major international honours across the 5,000m, 10,000m and cross country.

Although she retired from elite competitive athletics in 2015, her connection with marathon running never disappeared.

In 2025, a decade after stepping away from professional competition, Radcliffe returned to the marathon distance with a remarkable personal challenge: completing all six Abbott World Marathon Majors to earn her coveted Six Star Medal.

She began the final chapter of that journey at the Tokyo Marathon, finishing in 2:57:26, before travelling to the United States seven weeks later for the Boston Marathon. There, she crossed the finish line in 2:53:44, completing all six major marathons and adding another extraordinary achievement to her running story.

Her return demonstrated that her passion for the sport extended far beyond the records and championships she had accumulated during her professional career.

During Tuesday's ceremony, Radcliffe also spoke about the significant progress made in women's and girls' participation in sport. She highlighted the importance of women-only races, safer running environments and more inclusive opportunities that encourage women to take up athletics.

She also praised Princess Charlotte as a positive role model for young girls, highlighting how seeing prominent members of the Royal Family participating in physical activities can inspire the next generation to become more active.

Radcliffe discussed these issues with Prince William, who also recalled watching her compete during his younger years. Their conversation reflected the lasting influence of her performances and the wider importance of encouraging people to embrace sport and healthy lifestyles.

Today, Radcliffe remains one of the most recognisable voices in international athletics. Rather than chasing victories on the roads, she now regularly brings major athletics competitions and marathon races to millions of viewers through her broadcasting and commentary work with the BBC.

It is a fitting continuation of a remarkable relationship with the sport, as she now analyses and commentates on the same prestigious races she once dominated as an elite competitor.

From her historic 2:15:25 world record to seven World Marathon Majors victories, a world championship title and her remarkable Six Star Marathon achievement, Radcliffe's contribution to distance running stretches across generations.

Her latest royal recognition is a reminder that sporting greatness is not measured only by medals, finishing times and world records, but also by the influence an athlete leaves behind.

At Windsor Castle, a new honour was added to an already extraordinary legacy, officially recognising Paula Radcliffe's lasting contribution to British sport and global athletics.

It’s hard to imagine Prince William and an entourage of bodyguards jogging through Central Park without being swarmed by fans, but that’s apparently exactly what happened on Tuesday morning.

While onstage later in the day at the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, the Prince of Wales shared that he’d very much enjoyed his morning jaunt. “I decided to join the hordes of New Yorkers doing their morning routine,” he said. “It was wonderful waking up in New York on a sunny morning rather than the rain we had yesterday. It was beautiful getting some fresh air this morning.”

The Prince clearly inherited his love of running from his family. His mother, Princess Diana, was a known fitness enthusiast and participated in races at her children’s schools, as did his father, King Charles. Queen Elizabeth was even the official starter of the 2018 London Marathon, at the age of 92.

New York is a popular place for celebrities to run, and a morning’s trek through Central Park will probably offer a glimpse or two of some well-known people. The TCS New York City Marathon, held this year on November 5, often has a star-studded line-up, with past editions including musician Alicia Keys, actors Ashton Kutcher and Bryan Cranston and Canadian fave Ryan Reynolds.

The Prince of Wales has yet to tackle the marathon, despite mentioning in 2021 that he would like to have that accomplishment under his belt. His wife, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, said she had her doubts. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” she said on Good Morning Britain.

If and when the Prince does tackle 26.2, it’s unlikely he’ll manage to run it as stealthily as he did Tuesday morning’s training session.

 

The Marine Corps Marathon Organization (MCMO) will be hosting a limited-capacity, in-person, live version of the Marine Corps 17.75km on Saturday 20 March.

It will be held in a new location aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. The event has previously been hosted in Prince William Forest Park.

Beginning on Tuesday 16 February runners who deferred from the cancelled 2020 event will be invited to opt into the live version, followed by runners registered for the virtual event. Those registered for the virtual 17.75km may opt into the in-person event beginning on Thursday 18 February. Further instructions will be sent to the e-mail address provided by participants during registration within the next few days.

Any remaining entries available for the limited in-person 11.03-mile event will then be opened to the general public on Monday, 22 February

The field of 500 participants will be divided into two social-distanced, separate start times to be held at 08.00 and 10.00.

Virtual 17.75km registration remains open at www.marinemarathon.com. Runners must register before 18 February for an opportunity to opt into the live version. All finishers receive a Tun Tavern-themed shirt, finisher medal and collectible bib.

"It isn’t for me, it’s for all the people, the doctors and nurses, whichever country you are in," said Capt. Tom Moore.

It started off as a bit of encouragement, a nudge to her World War II veteran father to keep active in lockdown after breaking his hip 18 months ago.

Less than two weeks later, 99-year-old Capt. Tom Moore and his daughter have helped raise more than 18 million pounds, or $22 million, to support the staff and volunteers of the U.K.’s beloved National Health Service.

“I told him, I’ll give you a pound for every length that you do and if you do 100 by your 100th birthday that’ll be 100 pounds,” said Tom Moore's daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore, who lives with her father in Marston Moretaine, around 50 miles north of London.

Each day, Moore, armed with his walker, aimed to do enough lengths of the path in his 50-yard-long yard to finish the challenge in time for his birthday at the end of the month. They started a JustGiving page, and aimed to raise 1,000 pounds, or $1,244, by the end of the month.

Local media then picked up the story and the donations started rolling in. They smashed the initial target and the Moores then set a goal of 5,000 pounds. They soon upped it to 50,000 pounds, and then 250,000 pounds. In the end, it took just 11 days to raise 18 million pounds, with the number continuing to rise by hundreds of thousands on Friday morning.

“This is unbelievable, it really is. You can’t believe when you see these sums of money come along,” said Moore in a video interview, sitting in an arm chair and dressed in a shirt and tie.

During the war, he served with the British army India and Burma, now known as Myanmar, and went on to become an instructor at The Armoured Fighting Vehicle School.

In total, more than 900,000 people have donated, bringing record traffic to the JustGiving website. The numbers were so large that JustGiving had to ask donors to bear with them as they processed donations from thousands of Moore’s supporters.

He even caught the eye of Prince William, who called him a “one-man fundraising machine.”

While the image of the WWII vet in a suit jacket emblazoned with medals has in itself inspired many, so has the effort to help the country's socialized health service. The NHS is under unprecedented strain from coronavirus and workers facing similar equipment shortages as in the U.S., and Moore's challenge struck a chord.

We need to stop the spread of COVID-19.  Wear a face mask while out in public.  One of the best on the market is the Mindful Face Masks made by UjENA Fit Club.  Lifetime runner Bob Anderson wear these masks while out in public.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will be the official starter of this year’s London Marathon — 30 miles away on a special rostrum in the grounds of Windsor Castle. This year’s London Marathon, which starts in Blackheath, will mark 110 years since the 1908 London Olympics when the marathon route went from Windsor to White City and used the now-standard 26.2 mile distance for the first time. “We are deeply honored that Her Majesty The Queen has accepted the invitation to start the 2018 London Marathon,” John Spurling, chairman of London Marathon Events Ltd who organize the race, said in a statement. “Especially as this will happen 110 years after the 1908 Olympic Marathon was started at Windsor Castle by the then Princess Mary, grandmother to The Queen.” The first royal to start the London Marathon was Princess Diana in 1988 while last year the Queen’s grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge, acted as race starters for the event. Around 40,000 runners are expected on the start line this year on April 22.