And They're Off!

Bermuda's Annual Race Weekend is beloved by islanders and visitors alike

Written by Pam Shailer

Where else but Bermuda would you find a 77-year-old athlete placing in a marathon? That's exactly what happened this year in January's Bermuda International Race Weekend. Packed with invitational and junior events for runners of all ages and skill levels, the three-day race event has delighted islanders for more than 30 years.

Especially popular is the Friday night Front Street Invitational Mile. Parents and friends line the main street of Hamilton, cheering on the 12- to 18-year-old runners, who compete to see who can run a mile the fastest. Competing in the finale are International Elite Milers, who attempt to come in at under four minutes. Leonard Mucheru of Kenya holds the record of 4:02:60 set in 2002.

Saturday brings more races, including the 10K Charity Walk, which starts outside of Bermuda's National Sport Centre in Devonshire. The one-loop course takes in scenic Flatts Village and the sparkling Atlantic from North Shore Road.

The Bermuda International 10K has attracted world-class runners over the years, including Grete Waitz of Norway, who set the women's record of 31:41 set in 1982. The same year saw Geoff Smith of England set the men's record of 28:14.

Sunday's races start at 8 a.m., with the Bermuda International Marathon and Half Marathon. The two-loop marathon course starts and finishes on Front Street in Hamilton. The course is a scenic 13-mile loop along the South Shore and North Shore. Runners get a full appreciation of the island's beauty with the shoreline views and narrow winding coral and flower-lined roads.

This year's race was particularly exciting. In the 10k race, 203 participants finished. The male winner of the International 10K was Patrick Nthiwa (30:32) from Kenya; the female winner was Galina Alexandrova (35:04) of Russia. In addition, crowds cheered on Ludwig Cann, age 77, who ran, appropriately, as contestant #77. He finished in fourth place (1:28:46) in his age group, 70-79.

Runners and walkers totalled 966 in the Sunday Half Marathon and Marathon races: 516 in the Half Marathon and 461 in the Full Marathon. Of those, 441 finished the Half Marathon and 379 completed the Full Marathon.

For the third straight year, Dmitry Maximoy of Russia was the Half Marathon male winner. His time of 1:05:13 surpassed his previous record. The female winner, Elfenesh Alemu of Ethiopia, set a new record of 1:15:21. Once again, septuagenarian Cann drew cheers in the 70-plus age group, finishing third at 3:23:40.

In the Full Marathon, the male winner was El Afoui Boubker of Morocco (2:22:38); the female winner was Ann Pchrtrove of Czechoslovakia (2:49:35).

January in Bermuda offers perfect running weather, with temperatures in the mid-60s. Bermuda residents certainly are up for the races. Names and race numbers are published in the local newspaper and islanders encourage runners by calling out their names as they race. Entrants from overseas often are amazed to discover that locals know who they are! Bermuda International Race Weekend is organised by the Bermuda Track & Field Association, a registered Bermuda charity. All the officials are volunteers and many of the participants are walking or running for their favourite charity.For more information contact the race secretary at 441-236-6086 or visit the association's Website at www.bermudatracknfield.com.

Check our Events Section for more dates and sporting events.

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