will be just as gruelling as ever. Beginning tomorrow night, and for the second straight year, he will attempt three races in three days.

Last year Smith started off with a 4:27.4 time in the Bank of Butterfield Mile, before being the first Bermudian (12th overall) in the 10-K for the second year running the next morning. Smith completed the course in 33:17, though the time was slightly slower than his 33:03 finish the year before.

And though the 26-year-old will switch from the full marathon to the half -- which was incorporated into the programme last year -- his main focus is the 10-K.

Last year he had some doubters as he set out for the gruelling 26-mile race last year. Some, including Joe Lopes on the radio, didn't think he would get past the halfway mark, but Smith not only finished, he did so in fine fashion in 2:37.45.

"I knew I would finish,'' Smith said of his first effort at the full marathon. "I felt great after 20 miles, but after that is when the challenge starts.

"If I had my way I would like to do the marathon again, but it's not up to me.'' Smith has a training regimen worked out by his coach Duncan Newby as he gets ready for a busy year, which includes running in the CAC Cross-Country Championships in the Bahamas early next month, the May 24 Marathon Derby when he will put his title on the line and the Commonwealth Games in Canada in August.

"I would like him (Newby) to prepare me more for the half right now,'' said Smith. "I'm getting more of a feel for running the half.

"My priority will be on the 10-K and trying to accomplish a good time in the mile. My training right now is for the 10-K, trying to exhaust some of my speed. Somewhere down the line I'm hoping to run a good time in the marathon to erase Ray Swan's (record) time from the books (2:27).'' Smith holds the Bermuda 10-K record of 31:52 set in 1989, but is determined to go even faster than that.

"My personal goal for the 10-K is to be as close to 30 minutes as possible,'' he pointed out. "To run the 10-K fast you have to run sub five-minute mile, otherwise forget it. In most races I'm aiming for five minute miles.'' The island's top middle distance runner has also recovered from a recent bout of bronchitis, which hampered his progress for at least two weeks. He had an impressive win in last Sunday's Princess to Princess race, despite his illness.

Smith ran his best half-marathon time of 1:09 in the recent Elbow Beach race, which was also a new record, but would love to clip some time off that mark, too.

"One hour and five minutes, 1:06, that's my goal for the half-marathon,'' he revealed. "I've got to do the base work. I could run on the road and run good times according to Bermuda standards, but out there (overseas) it's nothing.

I'm not training to run a 1:09, I'm training for 1:06. I'll take that as a test to know where I'm at.'' Following a two-week break after International Race Weekend, Smith will set his sights on the Bahamas where he will be part of a nine-member Bermuda team at the CAC Cross-Country Championships on February 12.

And because the courses in the Bahamas are flat by comparison to here, Smith's preparation will not change dramatically. "Here in Bermuda it's very strenuous, but out there you don't get crazy hills, just some inclines here and there,'' he explained. "Now, most of my training is on the track.'' KAVIN SMITH -- Busy year lies ahead, including the Commonwealth Games.