WHAT should have been a quality team from Bermuda in this weekend's ING Miami Marathon now appears to have been whittled down to just two runners — and one of those is only to tackle the half marathon.Geoffrey Blee will be flying the flag for Bermuda in the marathon as he aims to add a further sub-three hour marathon to his tally, which most recently featured a personal best of two hours 57 minutes 28 seconds in the 2006 Chicago Marathon.

Blee had hoped to run against Ricky Sousa, Kavin Smith and Lynn Patchett. However, of the other three only Patchett is expected to make the trip to Florida and she has opted to run the half marathon distance.

Last year Smith indicated his intention to run the Miami marathon as it falls on his 40th birthday and would have given him an opportunity to begin his Masters category running career with a possible victory in the over 40s section.

In November, Smith appeared to be well on the way after running an impressive 1:10 in the Bermuda Track and Field Association Fall half marathon. That was an good return to form for the 39-year-old, only two minutes slower than his best ever.

But earlier this week Smith confirmed he would not now be travelling to Florida saying that other commitments were taking priority. However he does intend to take part in races this year with May 24 being one of his intended goals and also the possibility that he may go to the Island Games in Greece this summer.

"If I can remain healthy I would like to make a good stab at May 24 and see if I can run a time to win like the half marathon from St. George's. Going to the Miami marathon was more a fun thing, but I have had to do some stuff," said Smith.

He indicated that some of the shorter road races between now and May 24 are likely to feature in his racing programme.

"I do not think I will do anything more than half marathon distances. I am interested in the Masters/World Championships and there is the half marathon in the Island Games. I've put my voice in for the Island Games, it would be a good trip and there is not as much pressure.

"I'll also try to do some track and short distances. I was doing track times before the half marathon in November. So I will be focusing on those to see what I can do. I would like to have a stab at the Front Street Mile next year," he said.

Sousa has been putting in the miles in preparation for Miami, and ran a competitive 10K during International Race Weekend when he was third local home. But a stress fracture that was diagnosed at the start of this week has led to his decision not to risk running 26.2 miles on a weakened ankle.

Blee had hoped to do battle with Sousa as the pair are fairly evenly matched. Now he will find himself running alone from most of the distance, although Patchett is likely to provide some company and pacing in the early miles as the half marathon and marathon runners head around the course together.

There is a 6 a.m. start time to allow the runners to make the most of the cooler early morning temperature, which is likely to be 61|0xb0|F with an expected high later in the day off 78|0xb0|F.

Blee said: "I do not have much incentive now because Ricky is not running. I know what I have to do and I'm going to go out there on that flat course, although it is going to be warm and it will be a question of whether I can keep that pace up.

"It is a little deflating not to have the others. It would have been more fun with Ricky, having banter back and forth before the race. I have asked Lynn if she can do 6:45 miles for the first 12.5 miles.

"Hopefully then she can keep me on my pace and I will try to stay on target." Blee joked: "I hope to be the first Bermudian to cross the line." It is not known if there are any other Bermudians taking part in the marathon as the Miami marathon web site does not allow country by country checks to be made on participants.

Having finished as second Master in the International Race Weekend half marathon, Blee, 41, appear is in good shape for his latest marathon. He also plans to run the Boston, Chicago, and New York marathons this year.