Sure, you can optimize two pages with two similar word combinations. The idea behind optimizing a runner is to organically rank well on hunt machines for that specific keyword. Having two separate runners on your website ranking for the same keyword may not be an ideal approach. However, If you target hundreds of keywords, it doesn’t make sense to optimize a page around each one of them. It is expensive and time-consuming. it is also set you up for a Google Panda penalty.