At least two past winners will be on the start line come Friday morning for the May 24 Marathon Derby.

Brett Forgesson and Tracy Wright have had contrasting build-ups to the annual showpiece but both are determined to give their best from Somerset to the National Sports Centre.

"My training has been pretty consistent. I've been running about 50 to 60 miles a week. I hope to do a bit better than last year place-wise but I don't have any great ambitions. It would be nice to get back into the top five but time-wise it's hard to say because it's a different course," said Forgesson who breasted the tape first in 1994 but settled for ninth last year.

Two-time champion Wright has, however, not had enough time to train since "becoming a family man", he said.

"Training is not going as well as I would like," said the 38-year-old.

"I am not in top shape but I'm still coming down. My goal is to try to run an hour and 14 (minutes) or under. I still love the race though I am not as motivated as I used to be."

Regarding the new route which will see competitors finishing at the Frog Lane complex rather than at Bernard Park as has been customary in recent years, Wright reasoned he "should be all right" despite having a bit more of a struggle on hills these days.

"A few years ago, hills were my thing - they were what I did best on - but as I'm getting older I'm not as strong as I used to be. I'm not a fast runner. I'm more of an endurance runner," he said.

Forgesson, also 38, preferred the old course which had a flat finish but chose to reserve judgement on the new one.

Come Friday, he expects Kavin Smith to be "well out in front with Jay (Donawa) and Tracy (Wright) battling for second and third".

Meanwhile, race organiser Richard Tucker said yesterday more than 450 runners had already signed up for the event and that preparations were progressing well.

"Everything is on schedule and so far things are going along smoothly. We have more than 450 runners and we anticipate more will sign up tonight (last night, the deadline for picking up race numbers)," he said.