in International Race Weekend have been ruined by a bout of flu.

Smith was the second fastest local qualifier for tomorrow night's Front Street Mile and he has also entered Saturday's 10K and Sunday's half marathon.

Despite his continuing illness however, Smith is determined to compete in the mile and the 10K at least, though he does not expect to be anywhere near his best.

"I've just got the remanants of the illness now and I'm run-able -- but there's a big difference between run-able and race-able,'' said Smith yesterday.

"I don't know how far I'll be able to push myself, but either way I'm going to run and maybe treat it like a training run.'' As for what training he had been able to during the past few days while he has been under the weather, Smith said simply: "I wouldn't call it training.'' Smith finished second to England's Paul Freary in the International half-marathon last year, but revealed that he may pull out of Sunday's 13.1-mile event.

"It depends on how I feel, but I have a strong urge to go to church this Sunday,'' said Smith, who has repeatedly credited his running success to his faith in God.

But he relished the prospect of competing in tomorrow night's mile event before a big crowd on Front Street.

"I'm really looking forward to the mile. I'm still going to be there and I hope everybody responds,'' said Smith.

"I still feel positive about running and hopeful that something good will come out of it. It's not always about coming first.'' And Smith knows plenty about coming first, having gone through 1999 without being beaten by a local runner in a road race.

He cruised to his fifth Marathon Derby win in a near record time in May and followed that up in June by winning a silver medal for Bermuda in the half marathon at the CAC Championships in Barbados.