TOP Bermudian runner Terrance Armstrong will run his second full marathon next month when he tackles the New York Marathon with the hope that perhaps he may clock a time which would qualify him for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Armstrong, who holds the Bermuda record for the 1,500 metres, 3,000 metres and 5,000 metres, said he might be pushed in his effort to qualify for the Olympics but he said he did have a chance.

"New York is not the easiest course to try and make the qualifying time," he said adding that he believed he would have to run a time of under 2:20 in order to make Bermuda's Olympic team.

Last year in New York Armstrong clocked 2:30.23 which saw him place 59th overall out of the field of 37,000 runners.

After last year's New York Marathon, Armstrong was planning to run in this year's Chicago Marathon in the hope that he would clock the required time to book his ticket to Beijing. Chicago is known as a flat and "easy" course where many produce their best times.

But because he ran the Half Marathon at the Island Games this summer in Rhodes ¿ and won the gold medal ¿ he couldn't run in Chicago. And as it eventually turned out, he was lucky not to make it to the Windy City this year as the marathon was run in horrendous conditions which saw a man die and many others taken to hospital.

"Had I not gone to Rhodes for the Island Games I would have gone to Chicago but given the conditions they had I am glad I didn't go because those conditions were very, very tough. So ironically it worked out in the end."

Hundreds of runners were treated for heat-related illness in the oven-like conditions in Chicago this year on the abnormally sweltering autumn day. About 35,000 runners had come from around the world to compete in the top class marathon. About 315 runners were taken from the course by ambulance with what was described as heat-related conditions.

Of his hope to qualify for the Olympics on November 4 in New York, Armstrong said: "I am assuming that the qualifying time for the B standard of the Olympic Committee is just about 2.20. I know it is attainable for me but whether I can do it in New York is doubtful. It is a tough course. But if I can pop a good one, who knows. Right now everything is going well so I am keeping my fingers crossed."

But no matter what, the 36-year-old wants to improve on his excellent time of last year. "This will be my second full marathon and I hope to improve on my time," he said adding he hoped that he will have the conditions he experienced at the Philadelphia Half Marathon in Septemeber when he placed 42nd in a time of one hour, eight minutes and 48 seconds. "Philly had ideal conditions. The race started at seven in the morning and it was about 50 degrees and no humidy. I couldn't have asked for better weather for my kind of racing conditions. If I can find something like that in New Nork I think I can pop a good one. You have to take it when you can get it and I ran my pb in Philly."

Although his schedule was changed this year on account of representing Bermuda at the Island Games in the summer, Armstrong said: "My time contraints were shorter this year because right after May 24 (Half Marathon of which he is a three-time champion) I continued my training for the Island Games and then took my break after that. Normally I would take a break after May 24 but I kept myself going for the Island Games. But the break seemed to have a positive effect on me because I went down to Philly and had a great Half Marathon there.

"So now all the indications are showing that I can run faster this time in New York than I did last year and that is my goal. I planned on running faster last year but I kind of fell apart over the last 10K through lack of experience. The last 10K in New York is really tough. You really need experience in running a marathon. You have to learn to enjoy the pain over the last 10K or 5K. I was just going through the motions last year. After you have run a few marathons your body gets used to it. And then when you do break through you feel great."

Armstrong has found that the shorter distances were more mental than the marathon. When he was running the 1500 metres he said he "spent so much time thinking because you have to be on your toes and get ready to go at any given moment".

He added: "With the marathon you have plenty of time to get out there and get in a cruise state. You are just moving right and get to feel comfortable and judge your pace. There is not a lot of thinking process going along. But you do have to envisage what pace you want and what (distance) you will cover. I have done a couple 22-23 milers to get ready (for New York). I try and not waste too much energy and get as comfortable as I can. You do not want to do a whole lot of going fast and then going slow ¿ you just want to get in a cruising state."

Armstrong's time last year in his first marathon certainly impressed the road running fraternity here in Bermuda. One of Bermuda's marathon greats, Peter Lever, said last year that Armstrong could qualify for Beijing.

Lever, who has run eight sub-2:30 marathons and also has clocked the fastest of 2:21:19 in Detroit in 1972, said: "Obviously he has the talent. To go out there and do what he did in his first marathon was fabulous."

Lever also holds the best time for any local in the New York Marathon ¿ 2:25:43.

Other local marathon runners who have broken 2:30 include Ray Swan who ran 2:26:37 in Boston in 1983 and Brett Forgesson who ran 2:26:55 in the California International Marathon in 1993.

Armstrong said he was delighted with his decision to run for Bermuda at the Island Games in Rhodes this past summer.

"It was a great experience," he said.

The runner, who won Bermuda's first medal of the Games, said he normally competes on his own these days as he lives and works in the United States.

"I loved going with the team made up of other athletes from different sports. I miss that comaderie. I loved meeting the different athletes and hanging out with Ricky Sousa and seeing people I do not normally see and watching other athletes in their sports.

"It is something that I do not get the opportunity to do these days. When I was young and travelling to the CAC Games it was great to have that team support ¿ it is a great atmosphere. Also I liked to see some of Bermuda's young athletes ¿ myself and Jay managed to get the chance to put in our two cents worth and give them advice. It was nice for them to look up to us and see how we take things and how competitive we can be. I always want to try and give back to the sport."

And he will see some Bermudians in the Big Apple in 10 days time. "Ricky (Sousa) will be bringing some runners up to New York so it will be nice to be around them again," said Armstrong.