Jay Donawa has promotion exams at work this week but come Monday the distance runner will face a possibly more demanding test ? one that some would say he has not aced yet.

The May 24 Marathon Derby has proven to be this athlete?s Achilles? heel as, despite some sterling performances, he has not yet figured out how to dethrone perennial champion Kavin Smith.

However, noting the events of last May 24 taught him much, Donawa is ready to take the test again and see how his grades go.

?I?m going out there to try to do my very best like I always do and see what happens on the day. I?m going to run as hard as I can and see where it puts me,? said the fireman, admitting that because of his studies he is not ?feeling the race at this time?.

His training though has gone steadily and he has the mental freedom of knowing he will be competing for the top athletics prize in the land without injury or illness.

?My year has been consistent though I have not done a lot of racing. As a runner, once you have consistency, it helps a lot physically and mentally because when you?re injured it can really play on your mind.

?I feel like I have grown in my running which is always a plus. I?m enjoying it and I?m hoping this reflects in how I run. I want to run as positively as possible and whatever place it gives me I?ll accept it.?

Last year, the 31-year-old?s mindset was not totally right on the big day as a family crisis had him preoccupied. His mother-in-law ? to whom he was very close ? was extremely ill and in fact passed away the day after the race following a brief illness.

?It was really hard and, even though I still gave it a good effort, I took a lot on emotionally. I was also trying to be a supportive husband.?

That experience ? of running amidst personal tragedy ? and the front-running tactics he used, he said, have taught him more about his ability than any other year.

?In retrospect, I took a lot of positives from the race,? stated the lanky runner.

Of course, a greater positive would be for him to emerge from Smith?s shadows and win the Marathon Derby.

?Bermuda Day is special and this race is unlike any other. It carries a lot of weight because everybody is off work and they come out to spectate.

?Any Bermudian runner dreams of winning 24th May and it?s the one thing that?s eluded me so to win it would be special ? icing on the cake ? and to beat Kavin would make it even better.

?A lot of it will be based on the day. I don?t know what he or any of the other runners are coming in with. I can only account for Jay.?

He acknowledged the event will assume more importance given that Smith is seeking his tenth win overall and sixth in succession.

?He obviously has a tremendous interest in the race so I?m sure all runners expect him to come out with a lot of intensity.

?It?s just a matter of how the rest of us match up,? said Donawa.