Now retired from racing, Norwegian runner GRETE WAITZ dominated International Race Weekend in the 1980s, winning a record eight 10K titles from 1980 to 1989, and setting a record time of 31 minutes, 41 seconds in 1982. For most of those years, with husband and coach Jack, she used Bermuda as a winter training base, staying for several weeks at a time.

"Jack and I really enjoyed the South Shore most of all because that was where we stayed when we were there. In the early years we stayed at Elbow Beach and then later at Surf Side (owned by fellow Norwegian Erling Naess), so we know that part of the Island much better than the other parts. We liked Horseshoe Bay and that area for running and training. We spent a lot of time walking and running on South Shore down to Henry VIII and Middle Road.

We loved the scenery and for us we had good running conditions. It was also nice for just walking and we found we could do a lot of things there when we couldn't run. The weather in January is very unpredictable - there can be a lot of rain and wind - but for us the temperature is nice for running and the speed limit makes it so good for running on the roads because the cars go slow. Right now in Norway we have zero degrees and it's snowing. I wish I was in Bermuda! What we found nice in Bermuda was the hospitality and friendliness among the people who lived there. We always felt safe there and that makes Bermuda so different from other places.'' No caption RG MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 1993