The KPMG Bermuda Front Street Mile always gets Tamika Miranda’s adrenalin pumping, and tonight’s traditional Bermuda Marathon Weekend curtain raiser will be no exception.

The Heron Bay School teacher is once again among the pre-race favourites in the local women’s field along with Jenifer Alen, who will be looking to defend her title.

Miranda admits she was nowhere near peak form going into last year’s race, but still managed to secure a third-place finish after pipping Bermuda Day Half-Marathon winner Deon Breary in a sprint finish.

“Last year I definitely was not fit at all and only started running maybe a month beforehand,” Miranda said. “But this year is a whole lot different, and I’m just looking to see how fast I can go.

“I think my fastest time is 5min 06sec, and I’m just looking for some good competition. I know Jenny [Alen] has been running well and I’m just looking to have good competition with her and some of the other ladies and have a good time in the local mile.”

Having a “good time” in one of her speciality events is something that the great-niece of road-running legend Sir Stanley Burgess has been doing for quite some time.

“I really enjoy the atmosphere which I think is the closest thing to what I used to get when I was running as an elite runner off the Island, having the crowd supporting and cheering you on,” Miranda, the national 800-metres record holder, said. “People do not come up to the track, so it’s the only time people get to actually watch any middle-distance running because it’s on the street. For me it’s special because I’ve been doing it since 1992.

“I haven’t had many years away from it and so for me it’s always been like a motivator for the wintertime to keep out there training and keep fit. It’s like a combination where people are going to be watching and supporting you and it’s the only time you get that ambience.”

After tonight’s event Miranda will shift her focus to tomorrow’s 10K where she is competing along with her husband, Jose.

“The 10K is more fun,” she said. “The Front Street Mile is a little stressful and nerve-racking, whereas the 10K is a little more easy going. I’m not looking forward to the wind, though. It might be a little crazy weekend, but as per normal.”