El Guerrouj targets cross country
 |  El Guerrouj may challenge for the world cross country title in March |
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PARIS, France -- Morocco's double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj could make a surprise outing at the world cross country championships in France in March.
The 30-year-old will decide whether to compete two weeks before the event in a discipline which he has not run for 15 years.
"If I am to compete in it it is only if I feel I can win," said El Guerrouj, who broke his Olympics jinx in grand style in Athens last year when he won the 1500m and 5,000m titles.
"Otherwise there is not much point in me going."
El Guerrouj admitted his prime objectives this campaign was to break the 5,000m world record held by great rival and 10,000m Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele and to take the 5000m world title.
However the four-time world 1500m champion said he was a bit behind in his training schedule.
"The return to training was very difficult because I accepted a lot of invitations these past few months," he said. "I am almost a month behind but I am on the right track."
El Guerrouj has indicated the world athletics championships in Helsinki from August 5-14 will be his last international competition for Morocco with 2006 being a farewell tour.
He reiterated it was unlikely he would carry on till the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
"That is asking a lot physically and mentally and psychologically I have already begun to lose a bit of that," he said.
London pride
Britain's Paula Radcliffe, who flopped in Athens, has turned down the chance of completing a grand slam of marathon majors by choosing to race in London in April instead of Boston.
With wins in Chicago, London and New York, only the Boston marathon remains to be conquered but that takes place a day after London.
"Boston is definitely a race I want to do at some point, but London is very special to me," said Radcliffe.
"I love the atmosphere, crowds and course and know it will always be a great quality race. It is also the 25th anniversary this year which adds to the occasion."
The 31-year-old won London in 2002 on her marathon debut, defended her title 12 months later and will now seek a third title in the April 17 race.
Radcliffe's career took a setback when she failed to complete the 2004 Olympic marathon and later dropped out of the 10,000m as well.
But the 31-year-old bounced back to win the New York Marathon in November.
