Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe will return to competition after a 21-month break at the Great North Run on September 30.

Radcliffe, twice a winner of the half marathon from Newcastle to South Shields in northern England, has not raced since December 2005 because of injury followed by giving birth to daughter Isla in January this year.

"I now feel that I am ready to come out and race well. I am really, really looking forward to it," the 33-year-old told the Great North Run website.

Radcliffe's hopes of returning at last month's world championships in Osaka were scuppered by a stress fracture of the sacrum related to childbirth.

"It has been a really frustrating time recently, especially missing out on Osaka and watching the 10,000 metres, which seemed more open than it has been for years.

"I had to be patient until my body recovered and I have been able to get a good base of running and decent training in.

"I chose a half [marathon] because I wanted a good quality fast race to come back and blow away the cobwebs."

Radcliffe, the former European 10,000 metres gold medallist and former world marathon champion, set the marathon world record of two hours 15 minutes 25 seconds in 2003.

Reuters