Olympic Games - Pavey aiming to stay one step ahead rivals

The 39-year-old, who finished seventh in the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres finals at London 2012, will look to regain the title she won in 2006 against a field including younger British rivals Julia Bleasdale, Claire Hallissey and Gemma Steel. Pavey came fifth in last month's Bupa Great North Run and has now stepped up her endurance training for the Yokohama Marathon on November 18, preferring to stay at home in Devon with husband and coach Gavin rather than attend a traditional warm-weather camp abroad. And with every intention of making a fifth successive Games appearance in Rio, Pavey knows she will have to stay one step ahead beginning with this weekend's ten-mile race in Portsmouth. "I know I'm there to be shot at by my fellow Britons and this is a good thing. But it is also very important to maintain my position as a world-class runner and that's my strategy in the next few years," said Pavey. "[Going to Rio] is what our intentions are but you never know what's around the corner such as injuries and illness. But younger athletes can suffer just as well. "I've been concentrating my training for Yokohama and it's been progressing very well. "Not going abroad before the Olympic Games worked very well for me and Gavin felt it would be the way ahead before my autumn marathon." © Sportsbeat 2012