Tim Price believes it is time to consider making changes to the Bermuda Marathon Weekend to help preserve the long-running event’s future.

Price was crowned the Bermuda Triangle Full Challenge winner, having ran the Front Street Mile on Friday, 10k on Saturday and Full Marathon yesterday in a combined time of 4hrs 8min 35sec to finish ahead of visitors Harry Duvall of Dorchester, Massachusetts (4:13:55) and Benjamin Marinoff of Cambridge, Massachusetts (4:18:03), in second and third respectively.

A familiar face on the Bermuda running scene having completed the full challenge five times, Price believes the struggle to find suitable sponsorship, as reported in The Royal Gazette, is hindering the event from fulfilling its full potential, as well as calling for changes to the current marathon logistics.

“It was a good weekend overall and it was great to see some really strong runners out competing,” said Price, who completed the marathon in a time of 3:26:46. “Hopefully we can make it bigger and better over the next couple of years.

“The loss of prize money is a big blow, and perhaps it’s time that we think of something a bit different to attract more people over for the race weekend.

“If they bring in some new sponsorship that would make a huge difference for this event. Getting a big sponsor excited about the event would be huge and could show just how many people this event could bring in over the weekend. It would help boost the economy and to me just makes sense.

“The support over the first half is great but the second loop is a little baron. If they can change the course and start the marathon a bit before the half-marathon it might make it better because everyone could join up and the support would be there for the for the second half of the marathon as well.

“That could make a big difference for those people running the marathon because it is rough out there and that extra support would be a big boost when it gets hard.

“Numbers wise Bermuda is a small marathon but the island itself is a lot better than a city marathon; it’s a fantastic place to come and compete.

“Whatever happens I’ll be back again, I’ll keeping doing it and keep regretting it every year. If it’s here I’ll be doing it.”

Reflecting on the challenges faced undertaking the full challenge, Price, who has completed around 45 marathons across the East Coast, Canada and France, conceded the event never gets easier, particularly the marathon.

“It wasn’t a good final day for me, I just didn’t feel quite right physically or mentally,” Price admitted. “On the flipside it was a beautiful day and for most a good day to run; I enjoyed it but I’m glad it’s over for another year! This is the fifth time I’ve completed the full challenge and they’ve definitely got harder, that or I’m just getting in worse and worse shape.

““I knew today wasn’t going to be my best outing but my main aim was just to get through it again and I managed that so I’m pleased.”

Meanwhile, Bermuda-based Leana Coetsee finished as the overall winner of the Bermuda Triangle Full Challenge female category. The 29 year-old finished the three events in a combined time of 4:46:30 to take the honours ahead of Janet Cobby (4:55) and Erin Cox of Rockville, Maryland city near Washington, D.C. (5:10:14).