Miki relentless: 2010 two more marathon majors and the 10k @ ECs

by EuropeanAthletics

Two-time reigning World Marathon Major series winner Irina Mikitenko of Germany is planning to run the 10000m instead of the Marathon at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona, Spain, which runs through 26 July to 1 August.

Marathon specialist Mikitenko confirmed that in 2010 she will participate in only two Marathon races, one in spring and another in autumn, but she has not made a decision on the venues yet.

The 37-year-old Mikitenko pocketed $500,000 after winning the 2008-09 series of the World Marathon Majors that concluded with the New York City Marathon on Sunday.

The World Marathon Majors is a series consisting of five of the largest and most renowned Marathon races in the world: the Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon.

Mikitenko intends to compete in all the WMM races in the next two-year cycle of 2009-10.

"It's definitely a goal to run at each of the five Marathon races of the World Marathon Majors Series and if possible win, too," Mikitenko told the German Athletics Federation website leichtathletik.de.

Despite pocketing $1 million after winning the last two editions of the World Marathon Majors series, Mikitenko clarified that money was not the primary thing on her mind.

"Frankly speaking money does not matter to me. When I run, I never think of money. I am glad that I have been able to win the last two World Marathon Majors title but that is certainly not among the top considerations when I decide to run a Marathon," she said.