Runners to stand strong with Boston

Bermuda Marathon Weekend kicks into gear  tonight with the hugely-popular KPMG Invitational Front Street Mile.

And, along with runners in Saturday’s 10k and Sunday’s marathon, competitors will carry a poignant tribute to the victims of the Boston
Marathon bombings on their bibs.

Nine months on from the horrific attack, which claimed three lives and injured hundreds, Bermuda organisers have decided to pay their own understated tribute to the people of the New England city by having the Boston Strong logo on all the weekend’s bib numbers.

“Everybody who loves running, or even likes running, was hurt on April 15,” said race organiser Anthony Raynor. 

“So I think that will be special.”

On Sunday, there will also be a minute’s silence for the event’s marathon record holder Andy Holden, from England, who recently passed away aged 65 and whose time of two hours, 15 minutes and 20 seconds in 1980 has stood the test of time. Raynor says the beauty of running in people’s memory is that it’s not only a source of motivation but also a fitting way to remember those lost.

He told the Bermuda Sun:  “Since the inception of this event people from Boston have been coming here, so it’s just to remember what happened last April to honour them, as well as locals who were over there as well. For everyone who is staying here over the weekend, that’s how we want to honour those people — by carrying that symbol.

“It happened nine months ago and a lot of races have already done things but we wanted to put that there so people can just reflect any way they want to and I think people will like it.

“Of course we have people from Boston coming here. It’s going to be special to them.

“I emailed the race
director [of the Boston Marathon] and said this is what we are going to do and he was very appreciative.”

The Front Street sprint-off gets under way at 7pm with the school races leading up to the adults and then the elite runners.

Tomorrow’s 10k starts and finishes at the National Sports Centre. Runners must be at the line at 8:40am. 

And on Sunday the iconic marathon —in its 39th year — and half-marathon races get under way at 8am, starting and finishing on Front Street. 

For more information log on to www.bermudaraceweekend.com