Within two years of its 1971 foundation, the Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) had added a national marathon over the classic distance as part of its athletic calendar and from this humble beginning, the present International Race Weekend was born.

After that initial race in 1974, Raul Miranda, then BTFA secretary, wrote the following in his regular newsletter: "Just came back from the marathon... Tom (Warren) and Earl (Hart) came up with a good idea ... why not have a Bermuda Marathon — International?"

It was obvious from fuller discussions later that other key officers in the BTFA, notably founding president Clive Longe had also given consideration to the possibilities inherent in road running.

There was a consensus that Bermuda, as a January venue, would speak for itself, especially to snow-bound runners a short plane trip away, and, given the absence of stadium facilities for track meets of top international class in the early 1970s, the latent potential in 26.2 miles of reasonable road was compelling.

Randy Benjamin selected and headed a marathon organising committee and modest plans were made for foreign competitors in January, 1975.

The Canadian Track and Field Association was asked to recommend marathoners "of quality" and Andy Boychuk and Doug Scorrar were selected to join Bermuda's entrants, Raymond Swan, Graham Lewis and Kenneth Ford and Americans Dean Perry and Jack Bristol to make up the inaugural field.

Boychuk and Scorrar were housed by then-President of the Bermuda Olympic Association Reggie Cooper, in whose living room, incidentally, he first post-race awards reception was held.

The course for the first International Marathon took in South Shore Road from John Smith's Bay to the former Sonesta Beach Hotel before looping back via Middle and Harbour Roads.

This course was later abandoned on appeals from the competitors who complained that the seemingly ceaseless climb from the South Shore/Rural Hill junction to the Sonesta Beach Hotel was a "torment that not even the scenic beach views could mitigate".

The 1975 marathon had only seven runners!

Boychuk won the 1975 event in 2:25:14.8, over nine minutes ahead of Scorrar while Swan, the only man who competed in all of the International Marathons here, finished third in 2:43:14.

Perry was fourth in 2:47:25, Bristol was fifth, taking 3:30:25, while Lewis and Ford failed to complete the treacherous course, which in 1975 took the runners from the National Stadium along Middle Road to Flatts, round Harrington Sound, left at Devil's Hole onto and all the way down South Shore, returning up Middle Road, Burnt House Hill and Harbour Road to the National Stadium.

After the event, Mr. Cooper commented: "It was a super beginning. I can see the event growing in leaps and bounds in the years to come. I would not be surprised to see as many as 40 international competitors here next year and this cannot do our running anything but good."

However, the International Marathon did not take place in 1976.

"A case of chronic overload in the BTFA throughout 1975 caused the 1976 hiatus in the history of the International Marathon as both manpower and financial resources were strained beyond reasonable limits," Mr. Warren noted.

Also prevalent was the opinion that any top marathoners the BTFA might otherwise attract would be seeking easier courses on which to make a mark in the Olympic year.

However, the marathon resumed in 1977 with 12 competitors and two young men with promotional flair beyond the years — John Fetterson and Andrew Satter.

They paved the way for Adidas and Eastern Airlines to become major sponsors for the International Marathon in 1978.

Up until that time, seeking even minimal "seed" money and professional promotional assistance was as described by Mr. Warren best "as productive as shovelling fog".

The timely participation of Adidas and Eastern made them synonymous with the BTFA in the evolution of the Bermuda Marathon and 10K.

That year was indeed a benchmark year which saw the advent of the 10K in distinctly unceremonious fashion.

Consequently the "mixed bag" of shorter-distance devotees was assembled and dispatched on the first truly international 10K, led by Clive Longe on a bicycle!

A light-hearted but fortuitous start to an event which has seen the best in the world and beginners alike provide a spectacle for hundreds of spectators every year since.