Paula Radcliffe believes she will do herself justice when she contests her first race for almost two years in tomorrow's BUPA Great North Run.

Radcliffe has chosen the world's biggest half-marathon to resume her career following the birth of daughter Isla in January and a bout of injury.

The 33-year-old Bedford star is just pleased to be back in action for the race between Newcastle and South Shields.

She has not competed since New Year's Eve 2005, when she won a 10-kilometres road race in Madrid.

Radcliffe is thoroughly enjoying motherhood but has been frustrated by the injury setbacks which saw her miss some important events, including this summer's World Championships.

Her hopes of contesting the 10,000 metres in Osaka were wrecked after she suffered a stress fracture of the sacrum (lower back), which can be related to childbirth.

After her previous setbacks, Radcliffe vowed to listen to her body and not race until 100 per cent ready.

She said: ''I was really, really keen to get back into it, but I had to be very patient.

''I didn't make Osaka, which was something I wanted to do. That was what kept me hanging on through all the cross training in the pool.

''But I didn't get there and that was a nightmare as well.''

She insisted she will have no problems returning to elite racing, saying: ''That part of me will always be there, long after my body is probably is able to race.

''I'm pleased with how things have gone.

''I'm eager to get back into race mode and I think my instinct will come through on Sunday.

''I'm not really nervous, I'm more excited. I just want to be really competitive and win the race.

She added: ''I've probably done four or five weeks of decent mileage training.

''You don't really know until you come out and race, but obviously I wouldn't be racing if I wasn't able to be competitive.

''I am now, but I signed up for the race when I had just got back into full-time training.

''It was something to get my teeth into and a challenge to work towards.

''I've definitely no concerns in terms of motivation and focus and things like that. I think I'll be raring to go because I've missed it so much.

''In terms of whether there is something lacking in stamina, that's why you really have to come out and race and find out.''

The top North-East hopes in the big half marathon are Morpeth Harrier Ian Hudspith and Sunderland's Louise Noble.

Hudspith, a Great Britain international, underlined his form with an excellent third placing in the Blaydon Race on June 9th and posted one of his best-ever 10K times in May when he clocked 29 mins 8 secs in the Great Manchester Run, taking him to third place in the UK rankings.

Hudspith, 37, was third in the Bath Half Marathon in March in a time of 64 mins 49 secs. In his last Great North Run appearance two years ago the Newcastle teacher finished 13th in a time of 64 mins 56 secs. He recorded his best half marathon time of 62.53 at The Hague in 1996.

Noble, the North-East half marathon champion after her success at Redcar in March, lost her 10K crown to Teesdale's Claire Robson at Middlesbrough earlier this month.

Noble was the leading North-East woman finisher in 25th place last year in a time of 80 mins 37 secs, over four minutes faster than her time in 2005.