Famous runner and author Kathrine Switzer will return to the Island again this weekend to run in the International Race Weekend's Triangle Half Challenge.

Switzer, who in 1967, became the first woman to enter and finish the Boston Marathon, is back a year after competing in the first Bermuda Triangle Marathon.

And the runner has been given a special number for the race weekend – 261, the same as she wore for the historic race in Boston. As well as running, Switzer will be a guest speaker at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess' Pasta Party on Friday night.

The author of Marathon Woman, Switzer has a simple approach to her sport, one which she believes will carry her through this weekend's competition.

"All you need is the courage to believe in yourself and put one foot in front of the other," she said.

Last year, Switzer, 61, won her age category in the Bermuda International 10K, winning $100 in the process. It's a feat she's aiming to repeat second time around.

"It has been a long time since I won a running award and the first time in 45 years of racing that I won a cash prize," she said.

"Naturally later in the day I wanted to celebrate my new found pro status with everybody so I announced that drinks were on me for as long as the money would last. I slammed the hundred dollars on the bar and, for the record, it lasted 32 seconds."

Special numbers have also been assigned to Thom and Sharon Gilligan of Marathon Tours and Travel, who will wear 1700 and 1701 respectively in the Bermuda Triangle Half Challenge. The race weekend's official tour operators, the pair have been instrumental in starting the Triangle Challenge and have been bringing groups of runners to International Race Weekend for 31 years.

The Challenge consists of the KPMG Open Mile on Friday night, the International 10K Run/Walk on Saturday and the Butterfield Bank International Marathon or Half-Marathon, both on Sunday.

"The Challenge is fast becoming an anchor event for the race weekend," said Thom Gilligan, president of Marathon Tours and Travel.

"Runners want to challenge themselves and try something fun and different. Spending a holiday weekend in Bermuda in January is obviously a huge draw as well."

In the 10K, Phillip Ramsey Merriss will be returning to compete in his 30th International Race Weekend and will wear the number K230 to mark the occasion.

Nearly a thousand athletes have signed up for the weekend's racing. Online registration closed last Friday, and while there is still time for late entries, the numbers so far are impressive given the current economic climate.

More than 200 people have signed up for the Triangle Challenge while 141 will compete in the Invitational Mile races and 231 in the International 10K.

Roughly 512 will compete on Saturday with 487 involved in Sunday's racing.

International Elite Mile athletes Neil Speaight and James Thie will be holding a running clinic for the Island's junior runners this afternoon.

The pair will focus on the importance of proper training, stretching and diet a the KPMG sponsored event at the National Sports Centre. Those interested in attending should call KPMG on 295-5063, or e-mail jlait@kpmg.bm.