The former world marathon champion turns 36 in December but will run in the New York marathon next weekend, where she hopes to get her career back on track after withdrawing from the London Marathon, the World Championships and World Half-Marathon Championships already this year.

She said: "My intention is totally to be there in 2012, to be on that team competing in an amazing opportunity at the Olympics.

"That is definitely written in there and hopefully the family will be there supporting me and cheering me on."

Radcliffe has competed in the last four Olympics, stretching back to Atlanta in 1996, but has never won a medal.

The Bedford runner would be 38 in 2012 and she admits she will have to be "smart" looking after her fragile body but she insists she still views athletics with the wide-eyed fun of an 18-year-old.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme, she said: "After this year and the races I've had to miss out on I'm just going to be extremely grateful to be there [in New York] and just really looking forward to running really well."

Asked how close she is to top form, she added: "Very close, otherwise I wouldn't be going.

"I'm pleased with how the training has gone.

"I was really frustrated that I came down with the tonsilitis and couldn't race in the World Half-Marathon Championships but I'm really happy with how the training has gone and I wouldn't be putting myself on the line if I didn't think that I could go [to New York] and win it.

"I really enjoy racing.

"It is something I love doing.

"Getting the chance to do that and to prolong my career for as long as possible is what I really want to do.

"The hard thing I'm finding now is that my body is nearly 36 but my mind still feels like it did when I was 18 and probably will still always feel like that so I just have to be more sensible about how I do the training and the recovery."


Related stories
October 2009: Radcliffe pulls out of World Half-Marathon Championships
September 2009: Radcliffe to run New York City Marathon
August 2009: Radcliffe pulls out of Berlin to concentrate on London 2012
August 2009: Radcliffe wins World Championship warm-up in New York
October 2008: Radcliffe tipped for gold at London 2012 by Foster