Anticipation is starting to build as the Island’s most popular road race, the Appleby Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby, gets set to make history with a new course from St George’s to Hamilton.

Next month’s race will mark the first year of use of alternate routes from Somerset to Bernard Park and St George’s to Bernard Park.

After 37 years of starting in the west, this year participants will take to the start line in the east on York Street and Old Maid’s Lane in St George’s.

The new route, which has been measured and certified as a half-marathon course, will take the runners out of St George’s, using both lanes until they reach the “Welcome to St George’s” sign just west of Tiger Bay.

The race will continue along North Shore Road, up Flatts Hill and along Middle Road until reaching Lane Hill and turning down on to Front Street and then along the traditional route up to Queen Street, Church Street, left on King Street, left on Victoria Street and then onto Cedar Avenue before finishing at Bernard Park.

Dr Gina Tucker, the Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby committee president, is excited about the route change which has been in the works for a few years.

“After many years of deliberation and countless requests from East End residents, we are excited to have the race come from the east this year,” Dr Tucker said.

“Most residents are unaware that the race started and/or finished in St George’s or St David’s for many years. With six weeks to the start of the event, folks are buzzing with great anticipation, and already, indications are that the number of individual and relay participants will increase to numbers never seen before.

“This change will have us reignite the tradition of having the race start in the east. Further, this new course out of the east will introduce a new record, gathering momentum as to which athlete will reign supreme as the first to win from both the east and West Ends of the Island.

“Coinciding with the annual Cup Match tradition, the route will alternate starting in the east and west providing a new challenge for our participants while also giving East End residents the opportunity to enjoy watching the race from their backyards.”

The race last started or finished in the East End in 1976, the year Merenette Bean became the first female runner.

That year it ended in St David’s, won by Cal Bean, Merernette’s brother. Tucker, who took over as president in 2007, has said publicly over the past few years that she would like for the race to alternate yearly between the routes and her committee have made that switch a reality.

The race has been run over many courses over the years, including starting and finishing at St George’s, St David’s and Somerset Cricket Clubs, Court Street, Devonshire Recreation Club, the National Sports Centre and the former Berkeley Institute school field “The Box”, which was the venue for the 1947 race.

Residents in the east have longed for their “piece of the action”, something Dr Tucker first hinted at doing in May 2007, shortly after becoming president. “ ... something to do with the bridges,” was how she explained the decision to move the race from St George’s 39 years ago.

This year will mark Appleby’s eleventh anniversary as title sponsors, during which time they have made a financial contribution to the event totalling approximately $380,000.

In 2013, Appleby made an additional five-year sponsorship commitment which will run through to 2017, which Dr Tucker said the committee is grateful for.

“The success of this event would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Appleby as they have provided significant financial and volunteer support over the past 11 years,” she said.

Registration forms are now available at Sportseller in the lower level of the Washington Mall. To register online, visit www.bermudamarathon.bm

The registration deadline is Friday, May 15 while the online registration deadline is Friday, May 22.

The race will take place on Monday, May 25 and the final entry and number collection will be on May 23 at Appleby.

For more information, and complete registration details, visit the website.