Full disclosure, I did not train for the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge. I’m a news reporter, and my fingers are used to racing along the keyboard as opposed to my legs dashing across the finish line looking for the next big win.

On a whim, I decided to give it a go, and as the old adage goes ‘just try your best’.

The Butterfield Mile brought out a plethora of individuals either participating or cheering the participants on. New to the island, it was lovely to see all the interactions and camaraderie between the runners - the shaking of hands, photos being captured, and memories being made by families participating together. The Mile was parcelled out into ‘waves’ of runners, and I was set to go in wave five of the event. As I watched several waves go before me, you could feel the excitement palpitating among the runners and the crowd of onlookers that consumed the corners of Front Street.

As I approached the starting line, the thought, ‘what am I doing?’ definitely ran through my head. However, within a split second, the horn was blown and I had no other choice but to get going. Yes, my focus was on the course, but I could’t help but look over at the spectators lining the side walks and peering out of various restaurants while uttering words of encouragement. Short distances such as the mile are not my forte, yet the kind words boosted my spirits and kept me running with my head held high.

Towards the end of the mile a mature gentleman probably a few decades older than myself was gaining momentum and then began overtaking me. When he did pass me, a few lengths out from the finish line, I thought to myself, “No, I have to beat him,” and I started to speed up in hopes of clearing the finish line ahead of him. To my surprise, he kicked into another gear and continued to put distance between us, crossing the finish line with a verve I didn’t see coming. To be honest, this was a good lesson in humility. I had no training for this event and clearly this person had trained for it.

Once I crossed the finish I was greeted by eager volunteers handing out medals and water. All in all, the Mile was a delightful experience and a great starting point for anyone that has yet to attempt any of the three races.

Distance completed: 1 mile. Time: 8:55.9. Rank: 343 out of 488.

On Saturday morning, I participated in the BF M 10k run and walk. The event began (and also ended) at Bermuda’s National Sports Centre. Greeted by overcast skies, I was pleased the rain drizzled only softly during parts of the course, providing no sort of hindrance to myself or any other runners. The course took us along Middle Road before turning on to North Shore Road and then meandering back to North Field at the sports centre.

Unlike the Mile, people ventured out of their homes and positioned themselves at the end of their drives to cheer on friends, family, and pretty much everyone running the course. The clapping of spectators became a gentle hum against the beat of shoes and again, the words of encouragement spilling out from cheerful spectators along the course.

My ears could hear “keep going, dear, well done, you got this”. To be honest, these simple gestures from strangers pushed me into a zone of trying a little hard, moving a bit faster, and giving my best effort even if I wasn’t close to finding the podium in this (or any of the other races for that matter).

Moreover, as someone who recently moved to the island, the 10k race provided a great snapshot of Bermuda, giving me a sense of the parishes and a general lay of the land. Actually, one of the unique features of the race was seeing various musicians playing close to the roadside. Tucked into bus stops or driveways, I noticed both a violinist and a steel drummer providing soothing sounds while people picked up the pace farther into the race. On a side note, I also noticed a magnitude of road and traffic signs that will hopefully prove beneficial when I sit my driver’s test next week.

Overall, I think this was my favourite of the three legs of the challenge, partially because I have run 10k races back in Toronto, Canada, and in turn could pace myself accordingly without stressing about lagging behind too much.

I also loved all the snacks and refreshments offered at the end of the race. And yes, this reporter did sit down for a quick and free physio session which was being offered to any of the Challenge participants.

Distance completed: 10km. Time: 1:09:06. Rank: 510 out of 677.

When Sunday morning rolled around I felt like a bag of nerves. This was my first attempt at a half-marathon and I was not physically prepared for the toll it would take on my body. While I’m an avid gym-goer and have banked many miles on the treadmill, that doesn’t necessarily translate into building the essential foundation for being a successful half-marathoner.

On my walk into Hamilton, I proudly placed my racing bib on, partially to motivate myself and also to remember that I can’t chicken out at this point. As I walked past Admiralty House Park, someone stopped their car and offered me a lift to the race. As it turns out Michelle, who offered me a ride into Hamilton, volunteered at yesterday’s 10k. A quick shout out to her and her cute dog Chico for the lift and a few minutes of cheerful company.

With that said, I attempted the PwC half-marathon full of gusto. The course began in front of the Hamilton Princess Hotel, followed the path of Front Street before heading towards South Shore Road. Unlike the 10k, the rain started to come down and naturally paved the way for soggy sneakers, wet hair and puddle splashing throughout the remainder of the race.

Although I was soaked to the bone, the live DJs blasting the music of Cher, Rihanna, and Diana Ross along the course provided some warmth and light-heartedness. I’m sure having a rum-based refreshment at Gosling's would have warmed me up too, but libations mixed with poor training would have been detrimental to completing this gruelling task. However, I indulged in non-alcoholic refreshments such as water and Powerade at multiple points along the way. At those hydration stations I was greeted by children and adults handing out water for runners.

Along the back end of the run, cruising down North Shore Road I felt the race would never end. Again, I’m thankful there were so many people at bus stops, outside of their homes, sitting on patios continuously cheering us on. No doubt, support from the sidelines got me through this race.

Upon finishing the race at Barr’s Bay Park I received another medal, some cheerful congratulations from volunteers and several refreshments. Overall, it was a fantastic experience sans the rain.

I now have three benchmarks and hope to improve upon my performance in each of those races at next year’s challenge.

Distance completed: 13.1 miles. Time: 2:42:24. Rank: 375 of out 452.

For more information on the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge, visit: bermudatrianglechallenge.com