If the verdict from competitors in this year?s International Race Weekend is anything to go by the event can only grow in popularity. Elite runners, middle-of-the-pack competitors and those who simply wanted to try something new have given the Island?s running festival a ringing endorsement.

Italian journalist and former professional runner Massimiliano Monteforte was impressed by what he saw over weekend.

He?s part of the organising group for the Rome Marathon and regularly competes internationally, particularly in ultra-distance races. He competed in Saturday?s 10K in which he finished a highly creditable 14th in 35 minutes and 23 seconds.

During his stay on the Island he visited many of the tourist attractions to add colour to his eventual article on Bermuda and its running festival.

He watched the KPMG Invitational Mile races, participated in the 10K the following day and then stood on the roadside for Sunday?s Half-Marathon and Marathon.

One of the things he said he particularly noticed was the Bermudian informality that permeated throughout race weekend, much of it a far cry from the regimented officialdom that characterises big city events around the world.

Asked for his opinion of the three-day event, he said: ?It?s not perfect but it is good. The best thing is it feels so casual. The organisers want to improve the number of athletes taking part and I would say it is important this race goes to the Expo events at other marathons in the world.?

American Andy Gravatt headed a team of nine, who came under the name of Bermuda-Bound Ultimate Track Team (BUTT). Ten years after putting the Bermuda Marathon on his ?to do? list, Gravatt, 43, fulfilled his goal and finished 59th in 5:16:04.

Four of his travelling companions ran the 10K, with Pam Wallace the pick of the bunch winning the women?s 50-59 trophy, although her husband Mark was slightly faster.

The pair used the trip to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. They only made it to Bermuda by the closest of calls because of airport problems in the US which saw them run to catch their flight with only seconds to spare as the aircraft door was about to close.

Both the Wallaces and Gravatt said they had thoroughly enjoyed their weekend experience despite the hills.

?The hills killed me but the people of Bermuda are wonderful. The support along the way and the people we met were wonderful. Late on in the race some little kid of three pointed at me and said ?wow, you?re a running boy, a real running boy,? and that made me feel good,? said Gravatt, who also expressed a desire to return.

And the perfect weather throughout the three days was noted by elite miler James Thie, of Wales, this year?s runner-up in the Front Street showpiece. ?It was great and on Saturday and Sunday nights at the exact same time in the evening when the mile would have been held the weather was even better.? he said. ?If we get these conditions next year who knows what will happen.?

The International 10K attracted 351 finishers, of which 132 were walkers, while the half-marathon had 241 finishers and there were a further 64 in the full marathon.