Boyd's chances in last year's ADT Bermuda 10-K and this time he aims to make up for lost opportunities.

The 1993 Canadian 10-K road champion, with a personal best of 28 minutes, 48 seconds, and who was fifth in 1990 during the local event, yesterday announced his readiness for tomorrow's race, which promises to be quite competitive.

"I definitely want to make amends, that's one of the reasons why I'm back,'' said Boyd.

"As soon as it happened (ankle injury) last year I said `I've got to come back next year'.'' Recently, Boyd has been bothered by a back ailment, but stated that the last six weeks of training has been pain-free and quite productive.

He indicated that his strategy would likely be to pace himself early in order to allow for a fast finish.

"It depends on the wind direction and speed,'' explained Boyd, as he overlooked a wind and rain-swept Hamilton Harbour yesterday. "If it's windy like it was last year and in 1990, I think I'll go out a little slower in the first 5-K and try to attack the last 5-K. The second 5-K has all the hills, so I'll make sure I have some legs left.

"This year the field is more evenly matched. Last year (Marcus) Barreto was clearly the class of the field so he could get away with that (surging ahead early).

"Unless somebody's hiding something, I don't really see that happening this year, although I could see a pack of maybe three, four or five going out hard on the rest of the field and getting away.

"I'd like to lay off the pace. A lot of those guys coming in have never run the course so they're liable to make mistakes in the first half.'' Meanwhile, fellow 10-K participant David Lewis was baffled by the less-than-ideal weather, which he figured he had left behind in England.

"I was always under the impression Bermuda was a beautiful island, but after the last two days I'm not so sure,'' joked Lewis, one of Britain's top distance runners and definitely a threat for tomorrow. "I guess it's like anything else, if you have the sunshine it creates beauty ...so we're waiting for the sun.'' No such drama surrounds the women's portion of the 10-K as Anne-Marie Letko of the United States will have few real challengers to her crown.

The ADT Bermuda Marathon picture, however, is shrouded in mystery, with an aging champion having to take on a plethora of rising stars.

Robert Yara has been thrust into the role of protagonist, but the supporting cast may well deem the time has come for someone else to grab the spotlight.

A Russian contingent, however, stand ready to challenge the American.

Leading the charge from the east is Juri Kazmin, with Nail Bairamgalin standing by as his accomplice.

The Russians have long been major players in the local marathon, but Kazmin said that he felt no added burden in carrying on the tradition.

"I don't feel any pressure, I feel comfortable,'' he said through a translator. "Maybe at the beginning of the race I feel something, but after that the marathon is a long distance and you have time to change your mind, go fast, slow or whatever.

"It depends on the weather, the course and also on the other competitors. If there are strong runners behind or in front of you, you run faster.

"I think the strategy of most of the runners would be a slow first half and fast in the second.'' Galina Gurjanova, meanwhile, carries the banner on the women's side and is aiming to run under 2:42, which would break the female record of 2:42:47 held by England's Sally Eastall.

Nevertheless, she will first have to deal with defending champion Kim Goff of the US.

FLASHBACK -- Robert Yara crosses finish line in the marathon last year, but faces a stiffer challenge this time, particularly from Europeans.