By David Martin, PA Sport, Sydney

If Jon Brown misses out on an Olympic marathon medal by a few seconds do not be surprised if he curses British kit sponsor Adidas.

Like all members of the national team, Brown, the country's best bet for a top placing in Sunday's 26.2-mile race, is obliged to wear the kit of the British Olympic Association's sponsors.

But like many other top entrants, the Sheffield star has become a convert in wearing a revolutionary Dri-F.I.T. Standoff distance singlet, the endurance runner's equivalent when racing in hot conditions to the 'Swift Suit' used by sprinters in cold weather.

Brown admitted on Friday the high performance, environmentally-friendly garment designed specifically to assist runners in warm weather, has become his favourite vest since its launch earlier this year.

Made out of soft drink bottles, it uses nodes in the fabrics ensuring most of the singlet surface is kept away from the skin. Holes in the vest allows air to circulate as the the runner moves.

Brown said: "I train in it all the time. There's more comfort and I suppose comfort equates to time particularly in the later stages of the marathon with all the moisture that is around.

"Halfway through the race the singlet I'm going to be wearing will be stuck to me like plastic to my skin but in this you can go in the shower with it on and still be bone dry."

Although British Olympic swimmers were allowed to wear non-sponsor Speedo suits when competing in earlier in the Games, no deal has been struck on behalf of the endurance runners who face conditions of over 30 degrees and an intensive humidity count.

Brown, eager to wear a vest he rates, admitted: "It's just not possible. The BOA have a deal with adidas who haven't produced a similar product. There isn't anything you can do about it and you have to make do with what's available.

"They've produced a marathon singlet which is okay. But I knew I wouldn't be wearing the Nike one. How much time difference that makes to my time is probably not great. The most important thing is being physically ready for the race."

Not having contested the distance since placing fourth in the 1999 Flora London Marathon, Brown is adamant he has shaken off the hip injury which forced him out of this year's race.

Now the British number one, who finished 10th over 10,000 metres in the last Olympics, thinks if his plan goes right, on the day he could clinch a medal.

The hilly course means a fast time is unlikely. Brown whose fastest is two hours nine minutes 44 seconds, said: "I think it will be won in 2hrs 9mins/2hrs 11mins or something like that. I'd like to think I can run 2hrs 11mins. I cannot see the first half being slower than 65 minutes and I cannot see the last half being any slower than 65."

The 29-year-old Yorkshireman plans to keep his tactics basic. Brown said: "To run a marathon is to do as little possible until you need to. So that'll be my strategy going into it and I think that's what will be most people's. You don't run hard until you have to."

Championship races are unlike the big city marathons where pacemakers are supplied. Brown will backed up by Keith Cullen and Mark Steinle.