Dan Robinson is uncertain how he will perform in Sunday's BUPA Great Edinburgh Run three weeks after his Flora London Marathon exertions.
The Commonwealth marathon bronze medallist is still suffering a few aches and pains after guaranteeing his selection for this summer's Olympics.
Robinson is restless after his lifetime best for the distance clinched him a Team GB slot and a second successive Games appearance in Beijing in August - although the team will not be announced until later this month.
The 33-year-old Stroud runner jumped at the opportunity to compete in three 10 kilometre road races this month which he reckons can sharpen up his speed before he returns to marathon training.
After Edinburgh, Robinson will compete in the BUPA Great Manchester Run on May 18 and then in the inaugural London 10,000 Run eight days later.
"It will be great to get in a few quality races before I get back to my marathon preparations," said Robinson, who faces Commonwealth 10,000 metres champion Boniface Kiprop and last year's World cross country bronze medallist, Bernard Kipyego.
Robinson expects the Ugandan and Kenyan stars to dominate the competition, particularly as two-time runner-up Kiprop is determined to clinch the Scottish capital's title at the third attempt.
"I feel no pressure about competing against them and, really, the race is my first opportunity to get myself back into racing mode and also improve my speed work," said Robinson.
"There's 17 weeks starting Sunday before the Olympic marathon and normally I have a 12 weeks run-in beforehand, so these meetings come at the right time.
"I've recovered okay from London and the fact that it's a tough course in Edinburgh means there's no real pressure on me - I can go out there and just run as hard as I can."
After winning the first three Edinburgh titles, Jelena Prokopcuka will not maintain her clean sheet having agreed to fulfil a commitment in her native Latvia.
That indicates the women's race will be fought out between Australia's former world cross country gold medallist Benita Johnson and Rose Cheruiyot, Kenya's former Amsterdam marathon champion.
With two previous podium places under her belt, Hungary's Aniko Kalovics cannot be written off and Portuguese number one Jessica Augusto could also prove a handful for the two favourites.
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