ReutersRadcliffe has been formally selected for her fifth Games and is hopeful she can write a fairytale ending to an Olympic story that has seen more than its share of tragedy.
Despite holding the world marathon record, winning the London Marathon three times in three appearances and claiming the world title in 2005, many still associate the 37-year old with her tearful exit from the Olympic marathon in Athens, which she started as a red-hot favourite.
Illness and injury conspired against her then and again four years later in Beijing, when she battled to the finish, albeit in a distant 23rd. In her Games debut over 5,000m at Atlanta 1996 she came home fifth while at the next attempt in Sydney she upgraded to an agonising fourth over 10,000m.
However, she insists exorcising her Olympic demons is not the sole motivating factor for next summer - where the technical loop course around central London, which is not expected to produce fast times, is expected to benefit her.
"I've become more relaxed about it over the years. I've had a long career and had lots of up and downs but I'm grateful for the length of career I've had and the success I've had," said Radcliffe, who also only just missed out on the 1992 British Olympic team as a teenager.
"I'm not bitter about the way things have gone but I want to push myself to do better this time and part of me hopes there is a bit of luck owed in terms of staying healthy.
"I still feel it's something I'm capable of. I wasn't quite good enough at 10k and 5k. I probably should have medalled already in the marathon but I was ill or injured on the day or not where I needed to be.
"I want to be able to go in and race and give it my very best shot. Before Athens I wrapped myself in cotton wool and did everything right but I still got injured at the wrong time.
"I need to get to that start line 100 percent healthy. I'm realistic that I'm not going in with as strong a chance as I had in 2004. I need to be in sub two hour 20 minute shape to challenge for a medal, it's going to be hard but it's certainly possible. I'm just hoping that luck smiles on me this time."
Radcliffe, in only her second race after giving birth to her second child, clocked two hours, 23 minutes and 46 seconds in Berlin to achieve the UK Athletics qualifying standard and while well shy of her personal best mark of 2:15.25, it was quicker than her winning time at the New York marathon in 2008 and her fastest marathon since 2007.
"I'm fitter than where I was looking to be at this stage," added Radcliffe, who will return from a training camp in Kenya in time for Christmas before travelling to Albuquerque for another camp in the New Year.
"I know what training I need to do to be in the shape I need to be in to challenge or to win.
"I will run a couple of half marathons and some 10k races between now and the Olympics but I haven't mapped that out yet. I can visualise myself running well and strongly in London and I can imagine the support from the London Marathons I've done but know it will be way above that.
"When you are running on reserves at the end of a marathon, it will be a huge advantage for British athletes."
Mara Yamauchi, sixth at the Beijing Olympics, also had her Olympic selection confirmed after clocking two hours, 27 minutes and 24 seconds in Yokohama last month.
She has struggled with injuries since her breakthrough second place at the 2009 London Marathon but insists she is back in near top shape and relieved to have secured her Team GB place early.
"I've had another difficult year of injuries and it was only recently that I thought I could do the time and qualify," she admitted.
"Being selected now means I don't have to run another marathon before London and I can focus completely on the Olympics and plan my training to optimise my preparations for August.
"As recently as June this year I was debating whether to have surgery on my hamstring. There were moments when I thought I might not be able to qualify but I didn't want to give up.
"Luckily my fortunes have turned around, I'm just so delighted about it. I will only focus on myself, my preparation and my training. If I worry about other athletes too much then it will be quite detrimental."
The remaining British women's place for next year's Games will be decided after April's London Marathon with Jo Pavey, who made an encouraging debut over the distance earlier this year, currently the frontrunner, with competition coming from Liz Yelling, Claire Hallissey and Susan Partridge.
