consecutive US college football title, however Roxie Erickson has her sights firmly set on completing a three-peat of her own.

The bubbly Omaha native on Sunday will be bidding for yet another Bermuda International Marathon title, after recording victories in 1995 and 1996.

"I told everyone last year that I'm going to come back and three-peat like our Cornhuskers,'' she said. "But they didn't make it this year, so I'll go out and try to do my own version.'' After taking a conservative approach to the course in 1995, last year witnessed Erickson explode from the line and cover the distance in two hours, 46 minutes, 34 seconds, almost sevens ahead of second-place countrywoman and friend Kim Goff.

Of concern to the American this time around is a pair of relatively unknown Russians, Korchagina Lyudmila and Santalova Valentina, and Hungarian Eva Patrick -- as well as Goff.

And she has good reason to worry, for her two most recent losses at races in Memphis and Rhode Island have come at the hands of Russian counterparts.

Erickson placed second in the former and third in the latter.

"I don't want anyone to think that I don't like Russians, but recently I've had this thing about being beat by them,'' said Erickson, who managed to win her most recent outing at the Huntsville Marathon, December 14.

"I plan on going out with them unless the pace is too fast, then I'll just do my best, run my own pace and see what happens. I'll do whatever I can to win.'' Nevertheless, Erickson was almost forced out of the Bermuda race this year by the likeliest of sources, a bag of jalapeno peppers.

On Monday the runner was helping out a friend who owns a bakery and accidentally dropped a bag of the spicy vegetables on her foot, leaving one of her toes badly bruised. But while still sore she declared it would not significantly affect her during the race.

Her training has also been severely restricted as of late due to frigid temperatures in Nebraska. Not able to run outside, Erickson has taken to the treadmill, explaining her delight on arriving in Bermuda to sunshine.

Regarding the course, Erickson viewed North Shore, because of the wind factor, and McGall's Hill as the toughest areas to tackle, but noted the marathon record of 2:42:47, held by England's Sally Eastall to be within reach.

Why does she keep coming back? Erickson said that she remains just as enamoured by Bermuda and its people, as the first time she came.