Bermuda's leading women distance runners have the same goal for this year's Marathon Derby - and, no, it's not beating each other.

Both reigning champion, Lynn Patchett, and her arch-rival, Anna Eatherley, are aiming to improve their times on the event's new course which was introduced last year.

In Patchett's case, she is quietly optimistic that achieving that mission will bring two-fold success.

“My main goal is to improve on last year's time and, hopefully, that will be enough to defend my title. If not, then the best runner will win,” said the 36-year-old who is tapering in these final few days before Monday's showdown.

“I'm taking it easy but my preparation has gone very well. This year I have focused on the duathlon which is a bike-run (event) and that's given me a lot more strength. That's a bit different from my training last year.”

Though she has no expectations, Eatherley “would like to do a better time” than 2002 when she was recovering from the flu.

“Things are going pretty steady. I have to fit my training in around my kids and a full-time job. It's not like before when I didn't have all these commitments and I could train flat out for May 24th but I am still trying to compete.

“I just don't have the same time or even interest because my kids come first now whereas before training and running were so important,” said the mother of two young children.

Still the former women's champion is pleased with her preparation and current form.

“I am in pretty good shape and my times are about the same as they usually are around this time of year.”

Apart from being physically ready, Patchett is also mentally in tune for the battle of the road from Somerset to Bernard Park.

“I feel a lot more comfortable. I don't feel nervous at all like last year. I'm more settled and confident about my ability and I'm really looking forward to it. It's a great day and I enjoy running the race,” she said.

Having won the coveted title, she acknowledged, had helped her relax.

“That's certainly a key factor. I think also having run it quite a few times and being experienced with the course helps too.”

Not surprisingly, she sees Eatherley as her main competition.

“Of course it will come from Anna Eatherley. She is running very strongly right now and she has always run this course very well. She is a smart runner and I have a lot of respect for her.”

So far, the two have faced off three times in 2003 and the results are 2-1 in Eatherley's favour. Patchett beat her rival in the International Half Marathon in January but Eatherley bounced back to conquer her in the Evian 10 Miler and a subsequent 20-kilometre race.

None of these statistics, however, will matter come Monday and as far as Eatherley is concerned, changes in the course nor other competitors make any difference.

She will be her sole focus and leave the chips to fall where they may.

“I just run my own race. It's not a race where you can run against somebody. You really just have to do your own race.”