Former world age-record holder Sid Howard has participated in the International Race Weekend 10K every year since 1979, missing only 1997 when his first wife passed away.

One month shy of his 68th birthday, he’ll be on the start line for the 28th time this Saturday proving age is no barrier in competitive running.

And anyone who witnessed last weekend’s Fairmont-to-Fairmont road race will have seen the great-grandfather leave many far younger athletes in his wake as he crossed the line 38th out of 202 finishers.

On his 60th birthday the New Jersey man ran a world-age record for an indoor 800 metres of 2:14.75, which has since been broken but only by 300 hundredths of a second.

He has six US middle-distance age records to his name.

Since taking up running at the age of 39, his road running performances include a sub 2:45 marathon and a sub-35 minute time on the tough Bermuda 10K course.

So how does he do it?

Could it be his low level of training miles (less than 27 miles per week), his 30 years as a vegetarian, or his working life as a removal man which sees him still carrying furniture up and down staircases despite his advanced years?

The answer appears partially in all of these as well as a spiritual belief that he is honouring God by making use of the talent he has been given.

Leaving aside his achievements elsewhere, Howard’s running legacy in Bermuda has made him a celebrity for many who instantly recognise the lean runner wearing the distinctive cycling cap with up-turned peak.

Rules are rules and as a non-resident Howard is unable to officially run the May 24 Marathon Derby, but that has not stopped him taking part for the past 25 years. He isn’t allowed a race number and has to duck out of the race before he reaches the finish line funnel, but that hasn’t put him off.

“I don’t want to win a prize, I just want to help celebrate Bermuda Day with Bermudians. All I want to do is run through the finish line but I know I can’t so I run off to the side. It is an anti-climax but I don’t mind and, even though I don’t wear a race number, so many people sing out my name on the course because they know who I am.”

Ultimately, Howard would like to match the great ‘Sir’ Stanley Burgess’ record of 56 Marathon Derbies and then stop because, as he says: “Stanley Burgess is to be honoured and not passed.”

His long association with the Island’s road running scene makes him practically an honorary Bermudian, something underlined by Fairmont race organisers who presented him with a special “most frequent participant from off island” award.

Howard fell in love with Bermuda when he visited in 1977 and has returned ever since, taking part in all those May 24 Marathon Derbies as well as most of the Fairmont races and 27 International 10Ks.

“I came here in 1977 with my wife and we stayed at the Belmont Hotel. But the biggest thing was being invited to a Bermudian home,” said Howard. He was as impressed then as now by the unusually high level of friendship and hospitality shown by Bermudians regardless of race or background.

His daughter Cynthia married and settled in Bermuda soon after his first visit, giving him further reason to return each year.

As a teenager he was a runner of some note at school but his promise was cut short after he failed woodwork and maths in 11th Grade and quit school. Then, in 1978 when 39 his son Norman informed him there was “an old man’s race at the high school.”

It was a mile race for over 35s. With virtually no training Howard ran an impressive 5:05. He entered the New York Marathon on three months training and clocked 3:02.

“The flame was lit for me. I did not know there was this opportunity for 39-year-olds to run. The running boom was happening and I was running 60 or 65 miles a week not realising there was diminishing returns from doing lots of miles,” he explained.

He took what turned out to be a wiser approach of less miles but more quality training, and this together with his decision not to pursue marathon racing, he feels has allowed him to stay fit, healthy and virtually injury free over 30 years.

The delivery business he set up in 1970, appropriately named Super Fast Deliveries Inc, keeps him busy moving furniture up and down staircases. He trains only off-road, either on track or rough ground, in order to strengthen his ankles because, as he says: “That’s where the speed comes from.” And his maximum run is a one-and-a-half hour Sunday run.

“My mantra is speed, flexibility, sit-ups (he does 500 per day) and drills. I do two interval sessions each week; one with longer intervals of between 600 metres and 1,200 metres, and shorter intervals of 200, 300 and 400 metres. It is all quality rather than quantity. I’ve kept my speed by not running marathons or running on the roads expect in races,” said Howard.

Some years he has run both the International 10K and half-marathon. This year it is only the 10K. He will, as usual, be a volunteer helper issuing race numbers.

Over the years he has made friends with a virtual who’s who of Bermuda’s running scene, naming Jim Butterfield, Ray Swan, Mike Whalley, Ed Sherlock, Cal Bean, Kavin Smith, Bob and Midge Oliver and the Marshall family amongst others. He delights in meeting up with Bermudians who visit New York and New Jersey.

It is the remarkable friendliness of Bermudians and the beauty of the Island that brings Howard back again and again.

“It is the people more than anything. And you have the beautiful ocean, no pollution. I count my blessings that I found this Island. I love Bermudians’ mannerisms and culture and their ways.” And he says he intends to keep running until he is at least 100.

“Running has given me friendship all over the world. It has given me friends. It got me here to Bermuda which has given me more enjoyment than any other place I’ve visited in the world and I’m happy that I can see the difference.”

Spectators and fellow runners should look out for running legend Howard wearing race number 79 and his distinctive racing cap with upturned peak in this Saturday’s 10K, which starts outside the National Sports Centre at 10 a.m.