AT least 19 runners from Bermuda are set to contest this Sunday’s Las Vegas Marathon and Half-Marathon in what is rapidly becoming one of the most popular overseas running sojourns for the island’s long-distance athletes.While the New York Marathon continues to attract the biggest travelling contingent from Bermuda, the lure of Nevada’s glittering, gambling mega is fast catching up, with Swan’s Running Club and the Mid Atlantic Athletic Club sending teams to the December 10 event.

In a party of 11 from Swan’s Running Club is Cal Steede, aiming to complete his sixth marathon of 2006 and raising his career total number of marathons to a mind-boggling 72.

By contrast Elvin Thomas is a relatively a new kid on the block as he seeks to complete his 59th marathon with an eye on reaching his target of 60 marathons during January’s International Race Weekend.

For Thomas, of Southampton, it will be a return to the desert city where he has competed in the event seven times on both on the new and the old course.

He is one of the reasons for the upsurge in interest in the race amongst Bermuda’s running community having reported back on his experiences to his Swan’s clubmates who sent a squad of six last year.

At a big breakfast gathering on the final pre-race Sunday for athletes heading to Vegas, which was hosted by runner April Vesey and husband Tom, Thomas reflected on why he had taken up running in his 30s and is now on the verge of chalking up his 60th marathon.

“I was 32 when I first started running, before that I had smoking habit. I did a 10K race and then the May 24 Marathon Derby and joined a group who were going to New York to do the marathon,” he said.

He has now run marathons in the US and Europe, and added: “Running is the highlight of the day, and I’d rather do a marathon than something shorter like a 10K.”

Swan’s club-mate Donna Mae Smith was also in Vegas last year, although she opted for a 5K “Santa run” rather than the marathon. She and friend Edwina Arorash were part of a world-record breaking 5,000 strong race of people all dressed in full Santa Claus costumes.

It was Edwina who encouraged her to take up running. She said: “I did the Sir Stanley Burgess race when it was an eight-mile event and then thought ‘well if I can do that I can try 13 miles on May 24’ and did the Marathon Derby. Then Edwina said she was doing the New York Marathon so I joined her.”

Her debut New York Marathon in 1997 was also her fastest to date, run in 4:23. This Sunday’s marathon will be her 10th in as many years.

And she has an interesting way of making the most of her marathon experiences around the world by having a disposable camera with her on the run and stopping to take pictures of any interesting sights she sees during the 26.2 miles. The camera is conveniently attached to her running vest with a Velcro patch.

Also heading for Las Vegas is current May 24 champion Dawn Richardson, and a party from MAAC including Lisa Van Wanrooy, Terry Bossle, Wendy Griffin and April Vesey.

Royal Gazette <$>Business editor and former Mid-Ocean News<$> journalist Jonathan Kent, Royal Gazette reporters Sam Stevens and Scott Neil, and former deputy sports editor Dan Rutstein will also compete.

While leading Bermuda athletics coach Steve Burgess is travelling to Vegas to offer encouragement and advice to the island’s contingent of runners.