A return to the glory days of the 1980s when Bermuda’s International Race Weekend attracted world famous runners such as Steve Cram, Frank Shorter, Greta Waitz and Ron Hill is something the new race team are working towards.

As the Island gears up for this weekend’s running extravaganza there is a feeling in the air that it marks the turning of a corner after years of declining competitor numbers and the event being overshadowed by the big city events in the US and Europe.

A proactive approach to entice elite runners to Bermuda’s shores has begun to bear fruit. Spectators will see a reigning US champion and a top Russian woman marathoner — whose potential status as a national champion was being clarified this week — in action.

Getting quality elite athletes to compete is one part of the equation for the rejuvenation of the event, which in its heyday attracted many hundreds to the Island.

The other part of the equation is boosting the overall number of competitors prepared to fly to the Island in January.

According to race director Peter Lever the renaissance will begin in 2008, but even so he feels the first green shoots of progress are already visible.

In a collaborative effort with the Department of Tourism, the race directors have been visiting high profile events to spread the word about Bermuda and to talk directly with elite athletes and their agents to attract them to the International Race Weekend, which is sponsored by KPMG.

Current US 10,000 metres champion Jorge Torres has signed up to run Saturday’s 10K, his compatriot and 2005 champion at the same distance Katie McGregor is in the women’s event.

Leading Russian marathoner Sarmasova Vinera, who may be the Russian champion — something that is being checked on this week — is lined up for the marathon.

Put it all together with the promise of another high-energy mile race along Front Street by elite milers seeking to run the first sub-four minute mile on the Island, and you have a recipe that is showing the first early signs of reviving one of Bermuda’s best loved sporting events.

A new team is the reason for the renewed optimism.

Lever and Mike Charles are race directors of the 10K and KPMG Invitational Front Street Mile races respectively, reprising the roles they had eight years ago. Anthony Raynor is race director of the marathon and half-marathon and also chairman of the race committee. Together with Bermuda Track and Field Association president Clarence Smith, appointed to the role last April, it adds up to a change of guard and a new vision for the event.

That is Lever’s view and he has proof that things are changing.

“It is only since August that we have been promoting the event by mail-outs and such and by going to overseas race expos in New York, California, Philadelphia and other places, making contact with elite athletes and their agents and coaches,” he said.

“Our aim is to make 2008 a superior event by restoring confidence in the community and generating major sponsorship.”

In was in the 1980s that the race weekend had its golden era with Olympic champions and famous names such as Waitz, Shorter, Hill, Cram, Andy Holden and others. Olympic champion Steve Ovett even came to act as official starter for the Front Street mile races.

Being able to attract athletes of that calibre, and by doing so creating interest to compete amongst the general running community, is something Lever would like to see once again.

He said: “Lately we have been getting some Kenyans. I would like to say that we are reactivating the Bermuda Triangle — bringing runners from the three points of the triangle, North America, Europe and Africa.”

But will there be another golden era?

“It may happen. After the Commonwealth Games of 1978 we had adidas as the major sponsor and we then attracted a lot of rival Nike sponsored-athletes to race. We had upwards of 700 in the 10K race,” said Lever.

This year’s races will feature at least 155 runners in the 10K, 210 in the half-marathon and 70 in the marathon, with the possibility of more last-minute entries. A turn-out of a few hundred in the 10K charity walk is also expected.