BERMUDA’S premier road race will celebrate its 97th birthday next Thursday. And after decades of being called the Marathon Derby, organisers have finally done away with that misnomer for good and have officially renamed the race the Bermuda Half Marathon Derby.But it did take a little convincing to rename the race, said the race president Dr. Gina Tucker this week.

“We cannot have a race which is really a half marathon and call it a marathon,” said Tucker.

So come Thursday — Bermuda Day — there will be a new record time on the new course for the race which is expected to attract nearly 600 runners.

The course was officially measured (13.1 miles) recently and Tucker said that now runners will be able to enter international events with a proper half marathon time. And some of those events, like the Chicago Marathon, allows runners to produce a certified half marathon time to enter their races.

For years the route and length of the race has been chopped and changed. But this year Tucker said they had an expert come in and measure a 13.1 mile course. “It will give the race more credibility and validity,” she said. “It will establish a new record. We want to run a race that is certified.”

Having an officially measured course was given the thumbs up by two of Bermuda’s leading runners — brothers Lamont and Larry Marshall who finished second and third last year behind hat-trick winner Terrance Armstrong.

Larry said this week: “All runners want to have an accurate course. Hopefully they will now stick to the route.”

The 24-year-old runner is looking forward to this year’s race — one which he feels will be very tight. “However I have had an injury this year,” he said adding that he will be happy to see Jay Donawa back on the starting line after last year when Donawa was struck down by an injury to his ankle at the 11th hour. “That was a hard blow to Jay. I know what it is like,” he said.

Donawa, Bermuda’s cross country king, has come second in seven consecutive races, and Lamont Marshall said with everyone fit and raring to go, this year’s race could be one of the most exciting in recent years.

“What happened to Jay last year was unfortunate but I know he will be ready this year. With Terrance going for a fourth title and also with Kavin (Smith) I think we will see an exciting and close race,” said the 22-year-old.

Defending champion Armstrong will arrive in Bermuda from his New Jersey home this weekend to attempt to make it a four-peat on Thursday.

He told The Mid-Ocean News two weeks ago that he expects this year’s race to be “very tough” with stiff competition from the Marshall brothers along with Donawa and Smith.

Meanwhile the women’s defending champion Dawn Richardson is expected to keep her crown which she won last year shortly after arriving on the island from her native England. Top runner and second-place finished last year, Karen Bordage, will not be in the race this year as she is running an Ironman Triathlon in Brazil.

The course on Thursday will start at the gate of the Sandys Community Centre — about 120 yards forward of the old start — and will finish on Dutton Avenue.

Race president Tucker said that runners will have one last chance to enter the race this evening at the Devonshire Rec. between 5.30 and 7.30.

“We have about 500 runners now and we would like to get 600. I know that in Bermuda many people wait until the last minute to do things so we really urge them to come and register on Friday evening.”

Tucker added that a ferry will be laid on for the runners on Thursday morning leaving for Dockyard from Albouy’s Point at 8 a.m.