Mason, who had won the past three local women's titles before seeing her crown usurped by Jane Christie, was offered a reward of a gold Rolex if finished in 3:30 or faster.

The benefactor? Her husband Richard.

Mason's time: 3:28:58.

*** SCOTLAND'S Glen Stewart completed a rare triple yesterday.

Third in Friday night's mile and third in Saturday's 10K, Stewart shared first place in yesterday's half-marathon with England's Paul Freary.

Stewart comes from good stock: His father is Lachie Stewart, who won the 10,000 metres at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

*** RUSSIANS are making themselves at home in Bermuda.

The defending marathon champion was Alexander Gurin. The winner of the ITU World Cup Triathlon here in July was Dimitri Gaag.

And yesterday, of course, Vladimir and Nikolay Plykin finished one-two in the marathon.

The five Russians in the marathon trained -- and travelled -- specifically for this event.

They flew from Helsinki to New York and spent two days there before flying to Bermuda via Baltimore. They leave on Wednesday and expect to be home by Friday.

*** IN addition to producing outstanding marathon runners, the Plykins' hometown of Toliatti is well known for producing another significant form of transportation: Lada automobiles.

*** ROD Allen crossed the finish line ninth overall in the marathon but was number one among Masters runners.

The 43-year-old Smiths resident was clocked in 2:46.48.

The oldest finisher was 70-year-old Bermudian Ludwig Cann, who arrived in 5:48.02.

*** BERMUDIAN distance runner Kavin Smith mysteriously didn't race in any of the weekend events.

But there he was yesterday running the marathon course -- in the opposite direction of everyone else.

*** STEVE Boyd, who dropped out of the marathon yesterday after being with the lead group through more than half the race, knows the streets of Bermuda well.

The native of Ottawa, Canada, competed in the 10K in 1990, 1992 and 1994 before moving up to the marathon this year.

*** FORMER Bermuda resident Ronnie Wong once again returned for the weekend.

Now 50 and living in Baltimore, he finished 25th overall in 3:14.51.

*** THE presence of South Africa sensation Elana Myer in Saturday's 10K was a thrill for several Island runners.

Karen Adams, again the top local finisher, went so far as to call her appearance "an inspiration'' and marvelled at her techique and economical running style.

Myer was ninth overall, just ahead of the top local men's finisher, Jay Donawa, who was also impressed. No disrespect intended, but Donawa said he couldn't remember the last time he lost to a woman.