It means that her record of 2 hours 15min 25sec set at London in 2003 has now been re-categorised as a "world best".

"I think it is a decision that is going to be hard to fully enforce," said Radcliffe here.

"Look at how many national and area records are set in mixed races.

"I also think it is a little unfair.

"If they were going to make that rule, it should have been so from the beginning when world records came in on the roads.

"Now it is messy."

Radcliffe still holds the world record having also run·2:17:42 at London in 2005 in a women's only race.

"In my two mixed races it was not my decision to have male runners with me, but that of the race organisers, and in each case I very consciously ran alongside them rather than ever behind," she said.

"Indeed, in London, I was actively racing the two guys.

"Furthermore, I fully believe that I would have run pretty much the same time that day alone. However, rules are rules and I can't stress about things that are out of my control."

Radcliffe, 37, is targetting the BMW Berlin Marathon on Sunday (September 25) where she needs to achieve the Olympic qualifying time of 2:31 to secure her appearance at London 2012.

But her sights are set higher than simply qualifying for what would be her fifth consecutive Olympics.·

"It is always my goal to win and also to run good time," said Radcliffe.·

Radcliffe's biggest rival will probably be Germany's Irina Mikitentko, a two-time winner of the London Marathon.

She shares Radcliffe's anger over the change in world record status.

"I find that unacceptable, that a world record will recognised and now abolished," she said.

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