One of Bermuda?s best female marathon runners believes something significant has to change to save the ailing International Race Weekend from extinction.

Karen Bordage, the top local woman runner in the Half-marathon last year, told she found it difficult to understand why entry numbers for this year?s event were so far down on 2005 at a time when running is enjoying a worldwide surge in popularity.

More than 1,200 runners took part last year compared to the meagre 539 who are registered to compete this time round.

?There are more people out running in the world these days than ever before so it is a mystery to me why Bermuda?s main event is not attracting entries from more people,? she said.

?I?ve taken part in it three times now and there is no doubt that it is a fantastic event which is run very well. I guess it will just be a matter of marketing it more aggressively and doing everything we can to promote the event and Bermuda. But something is clearly not right at the moment and it would be a real shame if the situation cannot be turned around.?

Originally from Canada but a resident of Bermuda for the past 12 years, Bordage joined an elite group of female runners in November when she broke the three-hour barrier at the mercifully flat Chicago Marathon.

The achievement was all the more remarkable when you bear in mind that she has only been a dedicated distance runner for about three years, following a time-consuming career as a chartered accountant. Now 37, it took her only three marathons to reach the sub-three hour mark.

And despite a prolonged break over Christmas, this stay-at-home mum is determined to achieve even bigger things this year, starting with the Half marathon on Sunday.

She also has her heart set on beating her personal best of two hours, 59 minutes and 37 seconds at the Boston marathon this April.

?Just because I?ve broken three hours once, doesn?t mean I don?t want to do it again,? she said.

?If I was going to break three hours anywhere, it would have been in Chicago because it is one of the easier ones on the circuit. So the challenge now is trying to break three hours on a really demanding course, and the Boston marathon certainly is that.?