Kenyan Paul Tergat and Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa are inked into New York City Marathon history after their sprint finish in 2005, yet neither runner wants to repeat that dramatic climax in Sunday's race.

Tergat, the world marathon record holder, won last year's shoulder-to-shoulder dash for the tape in the 26.2-mile race by three-tenths of a second in two hours nine minutes 30 seconds.

"I don't want to see what we had to see last year," 37-year-old Tergat told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday. "What we saw last year was great stress!"

Ramaala, winner of the 2004 event, wants to taste victory again but in a different scenario.

"The best thing would be for the winner to have that last 100 meters to himself to enjoy, to raise his arms and wave to the crowd," Ramaala, 34, said.

"Last year was very hard, very painful physically and emotionally. It was good for Paul, but for me it was very difficult."

The marathon is by no means a two-man race.

Elite men among the 37,000-runner field include Olympic champion Stefano Baldini of Italy, the 2002 New York and Boston marathon winner Rodgers Rop of Kenya, and U.S. Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi, the 2004 NYC runner-up.

Yet the dynamic duo of Tergat and Ramaala drew the spotlight.

"I'm here again to try to win," said Tergat. "I want to say it was a painful win. The most painful win I have ever witnessed in my life."

Tergat, the marathon world record holder and five-times world cross-country champion, has had a difficult racing year, limited at first by injury and then by family concerns.

He was forced to scratch the week before April's London Marathon because of a calf injury. In August, he withdrew from the New York City half-marathon due to the premature birth of his fourth child. Happily, both mother and daughter are fine.

"The problem I had in London is gone and I'm in high spirits and good health," said Tergat, who ran the fastest marathon ever, 2:04:55, in winning the 2003 Berlin Marathon.

Ramaala ran a personal best of 2:06:55 to finish third this year in London.

Asked whether speed training is necessary to prepare for a finishing kick, the South African said: "It's not mainly about the finish. It's how you are going to arrive there.

"If it is to come to a sprint finish, whether you win or whether you lose it is in your mind, not your legs."