Before runners took the streets for the Bermuda Day Derby, students as young as five years old at one school had already completed a half-marathon.

One hundred and thirty students at the Francis Patton School in Hamilton Parish spent five weeks walking before school to attain the 13.1 miles, runners complete in the May 24 race.

Garth Thomson, Marathon Club organiser and Health and Physical Education teacher, said he decided to coordinate the walking with May 24 to give the kids something to shoot for.

Mr. Thomson said: "From April 15 to May 23 our students participated in daily walking routes around the school property. Their goal is to cumulatively walk the distance of the May 24 Half Marathon during this five-week period.

"It has been enormously successful with over 95 percent of students participating and between 50 and 75 percent of the student body completing the walk by May 23 each year.

"It really inspires people and now we have a few moms and dads coming out to walk in the mornings."

To acknowledge the students' accomplishment, the school held a celebration assembly on May 23 where Minister of Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler handed out certificates.

After the ceremony, the children all participated in one final walk dedicated to Stanley Burgess, the marathon legend who ran the half-marathon 50 times and won it ten times.

"It is a non-competitive thing between the students," Mr. Thomson said. "Their competition is with themselves. I hope that later in life they will go out and participate in the Derby."