"Starting my comeback with a 10 kilometres race is ideal as I build up later in the year to achieving the marathon standard," said the 37-year-old world marathon record holder, who has not competed since finishing fourth in the 2009 New York Marathon.

Radcliffe gave birth to her second child in September and has been undergoing high-altitude training in Albuquerque, New Mexico, since mid-January.

In a statement, she said: "I deliberately returned slowly to training after Raphael was born and everything, apart from being bitten by a dog whilst training in Monaco at the beginning of the year, has gone pretty well."

She is expected to take part in a marathon later in the year, with a focus on attaining the qualifying standard for the Olympics which will be held in the city where she has won three London Marathon titles and set the world best of 2 hourr 15min 25sec in 2003.

"I'm confident of what I have to achieve in the build-up to London 2012," she added.

And she has joined up with fellow British marathon runner Mara Yamauchi, five-times Paralympic champion Noel Thatcher and triple World Ironman Champion Chrissie Wellington in encouraging runners to raise funds for the stricken Japanese nation.

As one of four Ambassadors involved in www.RunForJapan.com, Radcliffe writes: "Like so many, I was horrified, shocked and moved beyond words by the devastation, loss and suffering in Japan.

"I have been searching for ways to help and support. RunforJapan is such an easy way to do something and I know that the running community will come together brilliantly in solidarity and support for the people of Japan.

Please get your trainers on, get out there and run many, many miles to help."

Yamauchi - who has lived in Japan for many years, having worked as a diplomat at the British Embassy in Tokyo from 1998 to 2002 and married Japanese national Shigetoshi Yamauchi – added: "The scale of devastation in Japan caused by the earthquake is incomprehensible.

"Every day we see unbearable suffering and grief. It is heart-breaking to see such destruction.

"But we can support Japan in rebuilding. Japan is a nation of runners. From recreational runners to Olympic champions, Japanese people just love running. Through Run for Japan, we fellow runners in the UK and around the world can support Japan in recovering from this tragedy.

"So join me in lacing up your trainers.

"Let's Run for Japan."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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