Running clubs took root in Bermuda in the 1970s, and the sport has been going strong ever since. On an island where some sports tend to split the population by race, it is also one of the few whose events have always brought together Bermudians of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Visitors are always welcome, too. Road races are held year-round, usually on Sunday mornings, nearly all of them sanctioned by the Bermuda Track & Field Association (15 Brunswick Street, Hamilton, P.O. Box DV 397, Devonshire, tel. 441/296-0951, www.bermudatracknfield.com, www.btfa.bm), an affiliate of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). Race dates and details are posted on the websites of the BTFA, as well as the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Club (MAAC, www.maac.bm), which also organizes evening and weekend fun runs.

Bermuda runners comprise all abilities, from joggers seeking a sociable outing to former elite Olympic Trials competitors. Many take part in major events overseas, including the Boston, New York, Toronto, and London marathons, and ultra distance events.

The highlight of the racing calendar is January’s International Race Weekend (www.bermudaraceweekend.com) which incorporates a Friday invitational mile event on Front Street, followed by a Saturday 10-kilometer race, and a Sunday half-marathon and marathon.

Since the 1980s, triathlon competitions have also become a highly popular sport in Bermuda, with weekend events throughout the summer and fall, kids’ training clubs, and local athletes competing in Ironman events worldwide. Two young Bermudians, Tyler Butterfield and Flora Duffy, are also currently competing on the world circuit. For more information on events, contact the Bermuda Triathlon Association (bermudatriathlon [at] gmail [dot] com, www.bta.bm).