Marcus O'Sullivan is the first to admit his 36-year-old legs don't have the same finishing kick they once did.

His training runs have become a little shorter, his injuries last a little longer and he now openly jokes about soon going out and "getting a real job.'' So what does this mean for spectators and competitors in tonight's Front Street Mile? Just watch the clock, baby.

The popular Irishman returned to Bermuda yesterday, coming off back-to-back personal bests last summer and ready to finally claim the $10,000 bonus -- for a sub-four minute mile -- that's been sitting in the Bank of Butterfield's vault for the past eight years.

That's if Tony Whiteman doesn't get there first.

"It's doable,'' said O'Sullivan, who missed the mark by six seconds in winning last year's event.

But as good a shape as the defending champion may be in, he is also casting a wary eye toward the growing shadow of Whiteman, who was second a year ago and, in the words of O'Sullivan, has "moved up a whole new notch.'' At 23, Whiteman has 13 years on O'Sullivan, beating him in a Hong Kong mile last year and missing the Olympic final by an eyelash. Then, of course, there was last year's Front Street Mile, when Whiteman jumped out to a huge lead only to be overtaken by O'Sullivan over the last 50 yards.

"He's probably gunning for me this year,'' said O'Sullivan.

Surrounded by all those young legs, O'Sullivan didn't make it out of the first round of the Olympics -- but a month later went out and ran the fastest 1,500 metres of his life: 3:33.51 in Monte Carlo.

He last raced in Hawaii -- "More of a holiday than anything,'' he said -- on December 5, clocking four minutes even on a course not unlike tonight's.

That's why he doesn't pay a lot of heed to this age thing, not on a road course where smarts count for as much as lungs. "Road racing is very unique.

You have to keep your wits about you the whole time,'' he says.

Particularly in Bermuda, where the two tight hairpin turns at the one-quarter and three-quarter poles, can knock anybody off their game. Factor in the weather -- wind and rain are (sigh) expected again -- and you can see why no one's broken four minutes yet.

Told officials are planning on altering the course next year, O'Sullivan was despondent: "I'll be ready to retire then!'' he laughed.

The first turn, he says, is the toughest.

The corner is so sharp that anybody who comes out of the blocks at full speed will have to come to a sudden stop and so tight that runners have to go through single file. "Get bad position and you lose ten or 15 metres,'' he said.

O'Sullivan adds another reason why the mark is still intact: timing. This is the first race of the year for most runners, still trying to get their legs in shape for the upcoming season. Give them another five or six weeks and "you'd see a huge difference'' in their times, he said.

Conversely, the usual big crowd lining the route is an intangible worth considering. "The spectators could make the difference,'' said O'Sullivan, noting that that was one of the incentives that brought him back to the Island.

Another one to watch is Paul Freary, who won in 4:08.5 two years ago.

But runners won't have to worry about Holland's Simon Vroumen, who informed organisers this week that he wouldn't be able to attend.

MILE RIVALS -- Marcus O'Sullivan (left) is again likely to be chased by Tony Whiteman when the two milers line up on Front Street this evening.