JAY Donawa will be aiming to win the Fairmont to Fairmont Road Race for the fifth time in a row on Sunday.

But, like all the 150 or so runners expected to compete in the 7.2-mile race (formerly known as the Princess to Princess), he will have to take a different route.

This year's race will finish at the Rib Room of the Fairmont Southampton hotel instead of the Whaler Inn. The adjustment in the course is for safety reasons, because of the construction work going on at the hotel to repair the damage caused by Hurricane Fabian.

The race will start at 9.30 a.m. at the Hamilton Princess and ends at the Southampton Fairmont via Harbour and Middle Roads.

Runners who have done it before know the defining characteristic of this race is the wicked hill at the end. Despite the route change, the painful finish will still be a factor as the route will follow a steep climb up Lighthouse Road before bearing left onto the Fairmont property.

"I always say that this race doesn't start until you get to the Waterlot," Donawa said this week.

"The first 10K is nice rolling course, but the hill at the end is difficult ? and the hill will still be there on Sunday.

"This race has always been one of my favourites. It's a fun race and it's also the first race of the season and a nice little warm-up for International Race Weekend.

"I remember running it as a teenager in the mid-80s. I've won it the last four times so I guess that has helped me to enjoy it as well."

Fresh from his victory in the National Cross Country Championship last month, Donawa is feeling happy and relaxed about his form.

"I ran well in the Cross Country Championship to beat Terrance Armstrong and I'm really enjoying my running right now," he said.

"I would say my training is several weeks behind what it was last year though, for several reasons.

"My mother-in-law died during the summer and that was a time for reflection for my family and it was difficult to train. So I went into the fall a few weeks behind."

Donawa's winning time last year was 37 minutes, 56 seconds, while Ashley Couper won the women's title in 44:46.

International Race Weekend is looming and Donawa will be busy, as he will compete in the 10K on January 17 and the half marathon the following day.

"In normal circumstances I wouldn't do a half marathon the day after a 10K race, but Race Weekend is a great occasion which gives us some great competition and I always try and do as many events as I can," Donawa said.

"Certainly the 10K course is not the easiest. It's probably one of the most difficult international 10K courses in the world. Last year I did both races and I was feeling fatigue early in the half marathon."

Preparations are well under way for Race Weekend and event secretary Pam Shailer said this week that numbers were well up on last year, with more than 700 overseas visitors having already signed up.

She said that much of the increase was down to an influx of extra charity walkers from North America.

"We've had the Leukaemia Society, who've been coming here for years, but this year we have two new groups, the American Stroke Association and the Arthirits Society of Canada," said Mrs. Shailer.

"It's nice to think we are all partners in raising money for charity."

Entries received include one from veteran runner Dudley Healey, from Chatham, New Jersey, who is now aged 89.

Mr. Healey, who at 75 broke the record for his age group in the New York Marathon with a time of three hours, 56 minutes, last year got round the Bermuda 10K course in one hour, 40 minutes.

Local runners are reminded that the first deadline for entries is 5 p.m. today. Runners can drop their entries in the box at Sportseller. After that race fees go up.