By Rob Bonnet BBC Sport

I don't usually applaud in front of the telly. There doesn't ever seem much point.

And it frightens the cat, though not so much as shouting, which is equally pointless but sometimes makes me feel better.

But warm, considered, respectful applause - much as was being offered by the crowds around her - seemed the right gesture as Paula Radcliffe won the London Marathon.

Her first race at the distance produced not only a stunning victory - some three and three-quarter minutes ahead of Svetlana Zakhavora - but also UK and European records.

Her achievement was truly magnificent.

Radcliffe mave have found her best distance

Seconds later, I found myself talking to the cat, which was cowering in the corner. "You know, Biscuit" - I said - "she really deserves it!".

This one-way conversation may have been as much a measure of my loosening grip on reality as an assessment of Britain's new marathon heroine, but I'm right aren't I?

Paula Radcliffe stands for the very best in sport across the whole range of values by which we measure true quality.

Talent? Well, I think we can take that for granted. OK, the running style is untidy, her head jolting and jerking to the point where you worry she might miss seeing that loose paving stone and go sprawling.

But then that's entirely the point. Talent over technique, substance over style.

Courage? Well, yes! In spades! This was a debut in athletics' most gruelling event in the marathon of her country's capital city.

Paula's qualities

She was the focus of attention for a nation which knows her better for glorious failure.

That really is meeting the physical and mental challenges of sport full on.

Honesty? How fitting that the first blood-tested marathon should be the finest hour of one of Britain's most effective anti-drugs campaigners.

We believe in Paula in a way that we find it hard to believe in others.

Passion? Her sheer love of running, leading to that emotional reunion with her husband beyond the finishing tape.

Eight months before at the World Championships they had a public row over her disappointing fourth place in the 10,000 metres.

Radcliffe may run the Marathon in the 2004 Olympics

Gary Lough won't have been the only one in tears.

Glory? The Monday morning papers were measuring in six-figures just how much richer she would become because of her win.

But, after meeting her on "BBC Breakfast" I guess she may have traded all that for 10 seconds fewer on the streets of London and the prestige of capturing the world record.

And humility? She said afterwards she'd been "stupid" not to check her watch with the world record in her grasp.

Maybe, but I'll take frank acknowledgements of personal error any time ahead of sport's "it's not my fault" mentality.

Paula confirmed to me that she's seriously considering running the marathon at the 2004 Olympics.

Wherever I am, I promise - absolutely - to yell her to the line.

She'll probably need every decibel she can get. In Athens there might be somebody at her shoulder!