TERRANCE Armstrong will return to Bermuda in two weeks to defend his Marathon Derby title.

And the elite runner, who has been living in the United States for some years with his wife and children, is hoping to make it three titles in a row.

"I have been training regularly and I feel pretty good," said Armstrong this week.

Armstrong said he will arrive a few days before the annual classic. "My priorities this year are winning May 24th and breaking the record and also running in the New York Marathon later in the year."

Armstrong said last year that he wants to test himself at the full marathon distance ? something he has never done before.

The Bermudian, who is now in his mid 30s, holds Bermuda's national records in the 1500 metres, 3000 metres and 5000 metres.

But he has had to adjust his training for the marathon. "I am just plugging away right now ? I have no injuries except a few aches and pains after training. All my training has been geared to the (full) marathon."

He has also been getting advise from marathon runners. "Lots of my knowledge base I have learned from marathon runners. I am building to run the full marathon ? to get through it. I want to be ready for New York. My training runs have been more intense ? I have been doing a lot of pace work. One of the hardest things for someone like me who comes from track is learning patience and learning how to stay within a pace. But patience is probably the hardest thing for me.

"When you are running the 1500 or 3000 you react immediately. You really have to be on your toes and be ready to go at any given moment. But in the marathon you have let people do what they want to do and stay with your game plan and then hopefully you will see them a few miles down the road ? hopefully they may have made a mistake. But you really have to stay with what you want to do. I suppose it was like May24th last year ? I ran within myself and didn't worry about anyone else. That is where the patience comes in."

In winning his second Marathon Derby last year, Armstrong came in at one hour, 14 minutes and 38 seconds.

Armstrong overhauled his very close friend and early pacesetter Jay Donawa on Burnt House Hill and then the overseas-based athlete blazed a steady trail through Harbour Road, into Hamilton and onto a glorious conclusion at the National Sports Centre.

"I found a comfortable pace and stayed there for the first four or five miles and I didn't worry about anyone else," Armstrong said after last year's race.

He said this week: "The race is three weeks away and I am just fine tuning right now and then I will back off right before the race and hope everything comes together on the day."

He also has a new sponsor ? the company he works for Alfa Wassermann. "They decided to give me a little sponsorship and to promote the company which is nice," he said.

And Armstrong is also very happy that close friend Donawa will be competing this year.

Donawa, who has had an excellent year so far, was upset and angry after last year's race after some tacky comments were made by spectators. Donawa, one of Bermuda's most gifted runners, vowed never to run in the Marathon Derby again. However after some time passed he said he would run in the race ? a race in which he simply has not had any breaks. Last year he had to settle for second place again ? the seventh time in succession which has seen him come in behind the winner whether it be Armstrong or Marathon Derby king Kavin Smith who has won the race nine times.

"I have heard that Jay has been running very well," said Armstrong. "I am happy to see he has changed his mind and will now run. Jay has so much talent."

Both Donawa and Armstrong keep in contact and Donawa has often visited Armstrong in the US for some training and races.

But now that Armstrong is running in the Derby they don't share quite same amount of information as they used to.

"It is always good to get together. We still email each other but not too much is said about the May 24th race. It is a little different than before because I wasn't coming home to race ? now I am. We still discuss racing and training plans but each of us have our own game plan. We will always be friends but when we go to the line we are both competitors," said Armstrong.

Last year after coming in second Donawa said: "The most disheartening thing about this race is not that I finished second but all the negativity that I had to endure during the race, especially in the last quarter of it ? hearing all kinds of stupidity from people.

"People can't really appreciate what we go through. They don't know anything at all about running. All they do is sit up every year with their painted toes and shout out negative things. I didn't wake up this morning to come second. That wasn't an option. I went out there and tried to win the race the best way I thought I could. Terrance was just a stronger, better competitor on the day and I've got to give him credit for that. I can handle losing but it's having to endure all the criticism from people that hurts," he said adding, "this is it for me. I've run my last race here."

Thankfully it is not.

Armstrong was also honoured earlier this year when his former college, Rider University, inducted him into the Hall of Fame.

Armstrong said: "It was a great ceremony ? a real highlight of my career. I went there with my whole family ? nephews and everyone. It is definitely nice to be honoured like that ? you only get that once in a lifetime. It was great to go back and chat with teachers, professors and coaches."

Armstrong was one of five athletes from five different sports who were inducted into the Rider Hall of Fame this year.

Armstrong joined wrestler Francis Dunn, softball player Colleen Fox, baseball player Ed Horowitz and basketball player Mark Wilcox in the Hall of Fame this year.

Armstrong was the Rider's Male Athlete of the Year in 1994. He won 10 conference gold medals and competed on seven conference championship teams, running cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field.

"My initial feeling when I heard the news was of sheer joy," said Armstrong. "I was surprised, and very happy to be considered. Probably more shocked than anything else. Some of my friends used to kid me, saying things like 'someday you'll be in there,' but I never really thought about it. This is a true honour."