Mikitenko is now 41 and while she is not expected to win in a race likely to be dominated by Africans, she is after a record of her own.

"Over 40," said Mikitenko, "you have to set new goals, so I am targeting the Masters' record."

That is 2:25:43, set by Russia's Ludmilla Petrova in New York 2008, the year Mikitenko won in Berlin in a German record of 2:19:19.

She is raring to go for the challenge on Sunday and said: "It's feasible but it's no good talking about it. You have to do it.

"There are pros and cons about being five years older than my best.

"With age you still have endurance, but you have to work harder to maintain your speed.

"It feels good running in Berlin again, knowing I set the German record here. And if I'm going to set the Masters' record, it's going to be here."

When she triumphed here in 2008 it was a big part of her run to becoming crowned World Marathon Majors champion, a title she defended the following year.

Her victory in 2:19:19 put her fourth on the world all-time list, and even now she has only slipped three places.

Kenya's Florence Kiplagat, the winner in Berlin in 2011, has a best of 2:19:44 and is favourite while her fellow Kenyans Wilson Kipsang and Eliud Kipchoge could battle it out for the men's title.

European Athletics (EA) – News