Having failed to finish the gruelling 13.3 mile course on two previous occasions, reigning women's Marathon Derby champion Karen Adams isn't about to make any predictions regarding Monday's big race.

Naturally she hopes to win again, but she won't speculate on a finishing time needed to achieve that goal.

"Perhaps you can say that I'm a bit superstitious, but it'll probably be around the same time (as last year). It depends on the day,'' said Adams.

A year ago she breezed home in a time of one hour, 28 minutes and seven seconds -- good enough for 30th place overall.

And with a string of injury problems now behind her, there's reason to believe she can improve on last year's time which represented a personal best.

"I felt very good running the race last year,'' said 34-year-old Adams. "I certainly ran it the way I wanted to. I went out and held a good competitive pace and managed to hold on until the end.'' She finished more than four minutes ahead of second-placed Jane Christie.

While favoured to win again, Adams expects strong opposition from the likes of Christie and former champions Sandra Mewett and Debbie Butterfield.

"Oops, there is also Julia Hawley,'' she adds. "I know she would love to win, and I have a lot of respect for her as a runner.'' In her five Derby outings, Adams has one victory, a second, a third and two DNFs.

This year she hasn't been competitive since running the Evian 10-miler last month, but she doesn't expect the lay-off to be a problem.

"I feel comfortable going into the Marathon without being competitive in recent weeks. I just go out and run my own race anyway, the competitive side for me is being physically fit and healthy.'' Masters champion Christie, meanwhile, is aiming for finish close to last year's 1:32.09.

"I would like to go under 1.35 again, but it all depends on the conditions, whether it's going to be really hot and humid. I just basically want to have a comfortable run and enjoy the race once again.'' Last year Christie pipped another master, Butterfield, who finished in 1:35.21.

Veteran Peggy Couper has set her sights on a sub 1:40 after running 1:39.10 last year, when she finished 92nd overall.

"Anywhere between 1:35 and 1:40 will be very realistic for me. I certainly wouldn't go under 1:35,'' said the 53-year-old, quipping: "I'm a year older and people my age really don't get any better.'' Couper, however, is encouraged by her physical condition, which she believes is a little better because she has managed to avoid injuries. But like most other runners, she reckons her performance will depend on the severity of the hot and humid conditions.

"The humidity is turning on now, it always does the week before the race. So I intend to be conservative when I go out. It's a very tough and long hot race. I am not going to try anything foolish.'' DERBY FAVOURITES -- Julia Hawley (left), defending champion Karen Adams (centre) and masters champion Jane Christie are expected to vie for female honours in Monday's big race.