At the age of 60, Ronnie Wong runs marathons week-in and week-out, but back in the late 1970s the then Bermuda-based chef was often to be found drinking the night away until 4 a.m. at Disco 40 on Front Street.

A bet with a co-worker, which fittingly involved a pay-off consisting of six shots of whisky, got him running and he hasn?t looked back since. His marathon tally alone now stands at an incredible 178.

Wong finished the International Race Weekend marathon on Sunday in three hours and 45 minutes, a week after completing the Disney World marathon in Florida and less than 24 hours after he?d finished first male 60-69 in the International 10K.

Three races in a week is pretty normal for the former Island resident who is a member of the US-based ?50 Plus Club,? which is only open to runners who compete in at least 50 road races per year.

In 2006 Wong completed 66 events, 14 of them were marathons and six of those were run on consecutive weeks, including Baltimore, Chicago, Marine Corps (Washington DC), New York and the final one, Suntrust Richmond, which turned out to be the quickest of the six in 3:30. He then took a relative vacation from marathons and did not do another until two weeks later.

Wong came to Bermuda from Singapore in 1976 and worked as a chef at the former Castle Harbour Hotel. Hanging out at discos every night was his life until a Welsh cook challenged him to run a 10K. If he did it, he would buy Wong six whisky shots as reward.

Despite training in flimsy tennis shoes, Wong ran the race and completed it in 47 minutes before making his way to the Rum Runners bar to collect his wager.

He was given advice from leading Island runner Mike Whalley and his running career took off. Wong says it was a decision that led him to a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle.

Wong has run the Bermuda Marathon 23 times, the first time in 1981. His best position was fourth in 1988, coinciding with his marriage.

He is the Asia 1,000 miles record-holder (14 days, 12 hours) and won the Sri Chinmoy non-stop 18-day race in 1990 when he ran 1,177 miles in Queens, New York.

?It takes mental strength to run that and to run marathons back to back. And you have to know what to eat. I eat mostly vegetables and whole wheat bread and lots of pasta and rice,? said Wong.

?I just do it to challenge myself and see how far I can go. When I did those 1,000-mile races it was a test of endurance to see what I could do.?

Wong, who moved from Bermuda to Maryland in 1982, returns each year for Race Weekend and joins old running friends at the annual post-race house party thrown by Joe Lopes, where stories are swapped and a fascinating ?running bible? scrapbook comes out of the cupboard to be perused for facts and figures on the Island?s racing action since the 1970s.

Former 800 metres world-age record holder Sid Howard, 67, of the US, was another of the house party guests.

Like Wong, he is now considered an honorary Bermudian runner having been a regular competitor on the Island since the 1970s.

As Wong enjoyed the food he helped prepare for his running buddies, he said: ?I lived in Bermuda for six and a half years and I have all these friends when I come back.?