Paula didn't race well.. Gary was furious and the whole world saw it; THE TRUTH BEHIND IRISHMAN'S MARRIAGE TO CHAMPION RUNNER.

Byline: ZOE WATSON

AS Paula Radcliffe broke through the tape at the finishing line of the New York Marathon last Sunday her Irish-born husband smiled with relief.

Gary Lough's rigorous training sessions for his wife had paid off, and she was once again on top class form.

Only 11 weeks ago the Co Antrim man watched as Paul collapsed on the tarmac of the Olympic arena in Athens after already failing to complete the marathon.

But on Sunday she fell into the arms of her 34-year-old husband and trainer after winning the marathon.

Radcliffe, 30, was back on form and it was all down to the Ballygally man.

But Lough is branded a "control freak" in running circles, because of his obsession with ruling Paula's life and all she does.

Three years ago the world witnessed Lough, himself a former 1,500 metre runner, tear strips off his deflated, tired and obviously heartbroken wife at the World Championships.

And what was Paula's crime? She had finished fourth in the 10,000 metres. As she collapsed on the Edmonton track Lough flew into a rage and made clear his disgust at the result.

Even when Paula pushed her way past her snarling husband on her way to the tunnel where journalists and the world's television crews were waiting, he followed, shouting with anger.

A senior sports reporter who witnessed the row said: "It was a pretty nasty scene.

"He was so angry and so not in control of his anger that his face was ugly with it. Paula looked completely downcast.

"She hadn't done well in the race and then her old man was losing it, right in her face and it was all caught on camera for the world to see, over and over again."

Later Lough made a public apology to his wife who he had only married the year before - but the scene was played out on TV screens from Iceland to Ireland for weeks after the 2001 event.

It has been mentioned in every profile written about Paula since and talked about in every interview.

As Radcliffe prepares to release her autobiography next week commentators believe the truth behind their unconventional relationship will be revealed.

In the book she dismisses the argument as "just one of those blow-ups that happen between two strong-minded people"".

One onlooker said: "Paula has sanitised it completely and it's odd that Paula and Gary use the exact same words in their respective accounts of the incident."

Lough keeps Radcliffe to a strict training regime, allowing her little down time and leaving no room for any romance. He is said to insist on mapping out every waking minute of her life.

Working on a seven days on, one day off cycle, Radcliffe is known to follow one of the most punishing training regimes of any athlete.

Her day begins at 8.30am when she runs 12 to 15 miles with her husband riding alongside on his bicycle.

After the run, she spends 20 minutes in an ice bath before spending two hours in the gym.

Lunch consists of an omelette made without egg yolks. After two hours sleep in the afternoon, she runs another seven miles and never eats after 8pm. She turns in for the night at 10pm.

The routine never varies, whether the couple are at their main home in Leicestershire or their retreat in the Pyrenees.

When they have to stay in hotels during competitions, they insist on a microwave being provided so they can prepare their own food.

Lough represented Northern Ireland in the 1994 Commonwealth Games before retiring in 1997. A source said: "He had a lot of problems with injuries but the fact is, he was never in the same class as Paula."

Some observers claim he pushes Radcliffe so hard because he uses her success to realise his failed ambition of being a world champion runner.

But Lough said: "Yes, I missed competing - for about five minutes."

Whatever his reason, Paula trusts his judgment. "We are made of the same stuff," she said.

"If he didn't have such an innate understanding of my sport, I'm sure he wouldn't be able to be as supportive as he is."

The couple have had their ups and downs, with Lough seemingly controlling the relationship, but it wasn't that way when they first met.

The British runner who made a name for herself in the 10,000 metres during the 1990s, claims she did all the chasing in their relationship.They met in 1992 when they were students at Loughborough University, where Radcliffe graduated with a first in modern languages and business studies in 1996.

It was love at first sight for her when she met Lough at an athletics meeting.

Lough had almost missed the start of his race and ran badly. Radcliffe stepped in and consoled him.

"We just kind of ended up together. My feeling was, 'Yes, this could work now'."

But Lough wasn't keen on commitment and when Paula went to Germany for the third year of her course, he began seeing other girls.

"Gary knew I would have liked more," " Radcliffe said.

"People asked if I regretted that my feelings were so obvious. The answer is that I didn't, your heart is not really all that fragile and if you don't put it out there, you'll never get the rewards."

After a friend of Lough's died in 1996 he began to rethink their relationship and his position as a lodger in Radcliffe's home.

But Radcliffe was the one who proposed marriage, giving Lough a ring for his 29th birthday and suggesting he wear it on the third finger of his left hand "like an engagement ring."

In her autobiography, Radcliffe claims Lough still believes the man of the house should be the bread winner.

But it seems his wife has control of that aspect of their lives.

CAPTION(S):

THAT'S MY GIRL: Gary and Paula after her Commonwealth victory; HAPPY COUPLE: Paula and Gary; FIGHT: The infamous spat in Canada

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Title Annotation:	Features
Publication:	The Mirror (London, England)
Date:	Nov 13, 2004
Words:	1005
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