MARA Yamauchi is relishing racing alongside Paula Radcliffe at the London 2012 Olympic marathon.

The 38-year-old Oxford athlete and former world marathon champion Radcliffe have already been named in Britain’s team for the 26.2-mile event.

Yamauchi’s sixth place in the Beijing Olympic marathon in 2008 equalled the best performance by a British woman in the Games, but all the headlines went on Radcliffe’s disappointing 23rd-place finish.

However, Yamauchi believes she, Radcliffe and a third yet-to-be selected runner will give Britain “a really good team”.

“We are the same age,” said Yamauchi. “We are quite old as athletes, but not neccessarily as marathon runners.

“My approach to her is really the same as to any other athlete. I have to focus on my own running.

“It is great to be on the same team as her.”

Yamauchi is now getting back into training after running 2hrs 27mins 24secs to qualify at last month’s Yokohama Women’s Marathon.

She will be going to South Africa for training in the new year, with same UK Athletics staff, who helped her recover from injuries this year.

Yamauchi said: “I feel at this stage, I want to focus on speed work – and sea level is as good as altitude for that.

“I may well do altitude work later in the year.”

Yamauchi will not run another marathon before the Olympics, but expects to race over 10k and half-marathon distances in the build-up.

And having finished second in the 2009 London Marathon, where she clocked her 2.23.12 personal best, Yamauchi is delighted to be racing in Britain’s capital again.

She said: “In the Olympic marathon, I am not looking for a time, I am looking for a position.

“But having said that, the way the women’s marathon is going, anyone needs to be in 2.20-21 shape to challenge.

“I just have to get myself into the best shape I can.

“I just have to be aware of that and have my toolbox full of all the things I need on the way.

“I don’t think the Olympic course in London is a very fast one. I think it will be a tactical race because there are a lot of corners.”

Spending much of her time in Japan and being married to a Japanese national, Yamauchi is very well supported out there.

But the former Headington Roadrunner and Oxford University student remains proudly British.

“I won’t be taking Japanese nationality any time soon,” she said.