European Athletics (EAA) – News – Russia’s Shobukhova looking at sub-2:20 in London

Russian marathon runner Liliya Shobukhova is targeting going under the magic barrier of two hours 20 minutes when she defends her London Marathon title on Sunday.

The 33-year-old from Beloretsk was an accomplished track runner and still holds the European 5000m record but moved up to the marathon in 2009.

In 2010, she won in London and crossed the line in 2:22:00, a personal best by more than two minutes, and beating her compatriot Inga Abitova by 19 seconds.

Shobukhova went on to improve again when she won the Chicago Marathon in 2:20:25 last October the best time in the world in 2010, a Russian record and her third marathon win in four outings.

It was also enough to also pocket the $500,000 World Marathon Majors first prize for 2009-2010 period.

However, despite generous bonuses on offer, it's not money Shobukhova has on her mind on ahead of the 31st edition of the London Marathon.

"Of course it will depend a lot on the weather, but with the quality of the field we have here, I think I can run sub-2:20," said Shobukhova.

Only two European women have ever achieved that time, including Great Britain’s current world and European record holder Paula Radcliffe, who ran her standard of 2:15:25 in London eight years ago.

"My training has been going really well, in Portugal and at home in Russia, so I am confident,” she added.

Shobukhova became the first Russian woman ever to win in London when she triumphed last year.

In addition to still being in the European record books, she is also a former world indoor record holder over 3000m and she has put that track speed to good use securing her marathon victories with impressive surges over the final few miles.

With one of the strongest women's fields ever assembled for a ‘big city’ marathon, her long kick for home could well prove to be a useful weapon on Sunday.

"Every day in my training I run fast for the last few kilometres so that I can do the same in the race," she explained.

"Moving to marathon running has changed my life. It's exciting, and now I only have two races in a year and can spend more time with my family," she joked.

Her next effort over the classic distance will be in the autumn as won't compete at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, this summer.

On the start line alongside her is Germany’s Irina Mikitenko, the only other European other than Radcliffe to break 2:20.

Mikitenko, the London champion in 2008 and 2009, broke the German record when she won the 2008 Berlin marathon in 2:19:19, but suffered bitter disappointment in London last year when she was forced to pull out before half way point with a shin injury.

However, Mikitenko believes that she is again close to her best after a recent three-week spell of altitude training in South Africa.

"Training has gone very well and I'm really looking forward to the race," said the tanned 38-year-old Kazakhstan-born runner.

"I must say quite a few athletes here have a chance of winning. When you come to London you know you're in for a tough race. I really don't like to compare my form with my previous races here, but I know I am much more experienced now. I know London well, I know the course, so I'll be much more prepared this time.

"Altitude training is a very important part of my preparation," added Mikitenko. "I was at 1400 metres in Potchefstroom. Altitude training is always been important for me. After all, for the first 24 years of my life I lived at 800 metres"

Mikitenko is treating Sunday’s race as a useful dress rehearsal for the 2012 Olympic Games marathon.

"To run the Olympic marathon in London is a huge ambition. I have competed at the Olympics before but that was in 5000m. To run the Olympic marathon is my big goal,” added Mikitenko, who believes that she can be on the Olympic podium despite the fact that she will be just a few weeks short of her 40th birthday.