Thirty-one-year-old Gail Laurence is a woman who loves to travel and have fun, so when she married triathlete Mike Garcia and witnessed the fruits of being able do something healthy as well as span the globe it was a natural progression for her to join the sport.

Since her first attempt over six years ago her travails have taken her to faraway reaches such as Brazil, Mexico, France, Japan and down under in New Zealand, and now they bring her to Bermuda for tomorrow's ITU Triathlon World Cup (8 a.m. start at Whaler Inn, Southampton).

In that time her level has constantly been on the rise, percolating toward the time when she might proudly call herself the world's best.

However, while Laurence would prefer to play down her obvious talent in the multi-sport discipline many see as nothing beyond self-torture and she calls pleasure, she is one certainly to be regarded among the best of the current female crop.

Moreover, she is tough and determined, continuing to compete despite the presence of constant pain at the bottom of her right foot as a result of recurring tendinitis to the tendon.

Hence her concern earlier this week concerning the run portion.

"For me it's different, I need a good run on Sunday,'' she said flatly. "My strength is the swim and the bike and the bike (course) is looking pretty tough for my competitors. I think it'll be good for me to get out with the lead girls, I don't think drafting is going to be too much of a factor during this race since there's so much climbing and technicalities on the descent.'' "I was pretty pleased last week in Brazil, my swim finally felt good and my bike felt great where I was able to put three minutes on the chasing group who were drafting with me out by myself... "So I feel pretty confident about those two, my run I'm always concerned about. I feel satisfied about my overall form and my condition.'' Brazilians witnessed a commanding performance from the Denver born athlete -- she is a graduate of the University of Colorado -- as she placed second to Canada's Carol Montgomery.

The latter will again pose as a major obstacle to Laurence reaching the winner's circle on Sunday when they set off from Whaler Inn.

But Montgomery isn't the only one sure to be presenting challenges as seven of the worlds top ten women will be on hand, gunning for personal glory, including world number one Isabelle Mouthon of France along with compatriot Sophie Delemer, currently at number five.

"I've got several people that I'm wary of,'' said Laurence, has accumulated 489 points thus far this season, compared to 659 for Mouthon and 623 for Australian Emma Carney who is not entered in the local event.

"Isabelle is certainly one of them; Sophie I've been catching lately and meeting her. Karen Smyers, who's the US number one, was first at the Pro Nationals this year -- I was second. She will be another one to watch and then there's Carol Montgomery who beat me last weekend... Laurence also highlighted the possibility of the stronger runners that do not normally do well on the bike section being able to hang in close enough for them to challenge at the end.

Katie Webb and Mexico's Maria Luisa Martinez would stand to benefit in that instance, both accomplished runners, but questionable on the bike.

Still, that scenario appears a mirage though when looking at the degree of difficulty in the cycle portion, with eight steep climbs up Turtle Hill and a myriad of sharp downhill turns.

But why did Laurence ever consider the demand of performing in triathlon over other fitness enhancing, yet more leisurely activities? Said Laurence: "The thing that attracts me to it is that; one, it's not monotonous, not the same thing over and over again. I mean, you're always swim, bike, running, but you're in so many different places and don't always train in the same place and get to see things that are different.

"And two, which for me was the main thing six years ago when I got into it, was that my husband was a triathlete and had been for 12 years when I met him and for me it seemed pretty interesting to travel all around all over the place, so I thought `okay I'll try that'.'' "I really have just a long term goal and that's to make the US Olympic team, that's my burning desire. I would certainly love to get a medal, but seeing as I've never been at that level in my life before I don't know although I certainly feel it to be possible, especially if I could ever get my run to where it works.'' Outside of training and racing in demanding triathlons Laurence's interests include more subtle things such as the arts and crafts, but these will far from her thoughts come Sunday.

GAIL LAURENCE -- One of the women to watch tomorrow morning in the ITU Triathlon World Cup.