Something From The Weekend: Paula Radcliffe; Richard Dunne; Can't touch this

The Good, The Bad and The Odd

The Good: Paula Radcliffe

The 37-year-old wonder woman suffered in the heat of Athens in 2004 when she retired from the Olympic marathon through tears and exhaustion and fared little better four years later in Beijing, finishing 23rd after failing to recover from a stress fracture. But her journey to London 2012 began in better fashion yesterday, as she competed for the first time in 22 months in the Berlin event. Radcliffe finished third, in 2:23:46, her best time since 2007, making the qualifying mark for next summer with ease. Her time would have been sufficient to guarantee her gold in either of the last two Olympic marathons. All of a sudden, 5 August next year can't come soon enough for our Paula.

The Bad: Richard Dunne

Long ridiculed by seasoned watchers of the English game, the cumbersome centre-back has defied critics by enjoying a fine month on the pitch. He put in a herculean shift for the Republic of Ireland, who clinched a priceless goalless draw in a European Championship qualifier in Russia, and has helped Aston Villa maintain an unbeaten start to the Premier League. His stellar September came to an abrupt end yesterday however, the hapless 32-year-old once again finding himself in the wrong place at the wrong time to deflect the ball into his own net and earn QPR a point in the 93rd minute. Dunne moved two clear of Jamie Carragher in holding the unenviable record for most Premier League own goals, now with nine to his name.

The Odd: Can't touch this

If only Lewis Hamilton could apply the same ability during a Formula One race as he does in interviews. After Hamilton rammed into the back of Felipe Massa's rear tyre in Singapore, the Brazilian was understandably furious. Indeed, the two have a history – Hamilton also bumped Massa in Monaco, Massa claiming, "he has done it to me so many times this year, he cannot use his mind." Massa approached Hamilton post-race in the press area, prodding him on the shoulder and goading him sarcastically, "Good job! Very good." Hamilton snapped: "Don't ever touch me again," displaying the lightning reactions that we've come to expect from him – it's a shame he can't produce them on the track.