Six-time Fairmont to Fairmont road race champion Jay Donawa is heading into the New Year all guns blazing, happy with his fitness and determined to obliterate his rivals once again.

The 32-year old yesterday confirmed his intention of going for a seventh consecutive title in the 7.2 mile event on Sunday, while stressing that he has no intention of over-exerting himself ahead of the rigours of Race Weekend only six days later.

Donawa has put his name forward for the 10K and the half marathon and insisted he feels physically capable of passing both assignments with flying colours.

?I?ve kept myself in pretty good shape over the holidays,? he said.

?I had a couple of days off to be sure but other than that it was training as usual. I?ve been putting in about 70 miles a week up to now and other than a couple of little sniffles I haven?t had any injury worries to speak of. My legs feel strong and I?m looking forward to getting out there.

?Like last year the Princess race is only a week before Race Weekend and I have to be careful that I leave enough in the tank. That?s not always easy in the heat of competition because you always want to do well and run a good time. But I?ve learned over the years how to hold myself back. I always enjoy running in the Princess race because it is well organised and well attended and I want to do the event justice.?

While the May 24 Marathan Derby title continues to elude him, Donawa has been the undisputed champion of the distance running scene for years.

He has made no secret of his desire to stretch himself against better runners abroad, but has struggled to find the time while holding down a full-time job as a fireman.

His motivation is still well and truly there however.

?I just love running,? he said.

?A lot of people ask me what keeps me going and why I am still putting myself through all the training that is required to maintain my fitness. But when I?m out there on training runs or in competition I am in another world. It?s part of who I am and without it I?m not sure what I would do.

?It is hard though and in my opinion, you cannot be a good distance runner without being a very disciplined person. I have to get up in the morning to do interval training and then do another long run at the end of the day. And it?s not just when I?m out running. The time spent recovering is just as important so I guess you could say that it does take over my whole life.?

Meanwhile, there has been a changing of the guard on the administrative side of the race, which is now in its 29th year.

After 16 years at the helm, Newton Adcock has stepped down as race director and handed over the reins to Mid Atlantic Athletic Club?s April Vesey and Lisa Van Wanrooy.

?We are honoured to take over what has always been a very popular and very well run event under Newton?s charge,? Vesey said.

?We shadowed him last year to get a flavour of how the race works and we are sure things will be pretty much business as usual.?