THERE was a lot made by all the media ? and also some local athletes ? about the lack of numbers for International Race Weekend.

The 'Where are all the runners' headlines indicated a sporting spectacle struggling to entice the fun runners and charity walkers who make these international events truly successful.

There are no concerns, however, about enticing elite athletes.

These international competitors, admittedly second-tier with barely a handful of Olympic appearances between them, love Bermuda and everything about the tiny Mid-Atlantic colony.

Let's not forget these runners are not getting appearance money and the prizes, let's be honest, are nothing truly spectacular. Even the $10,000 carrot for breaking the magical four-minute mile isn't enough to bring in genuinely world-class runners.

Athletes come here often simply because they want to, the people are friendly, the views spectacular and they might get to go snorkelling or out on a boat.

UK-based Australian Phillip Sly, a runner-up in the half marathon and fourth in the 10K, now flies to Miami on Thursday to compete in a marathon where he feels he has a good chance of snatching the $7,000 first prize and regardless will get some cash just for showing up.

The few hundred dollars he picked up dashing around Bermuda's roads were appreciated, but his second trip to Bermuda was as much a January holiday as an important part of his annual road-running schedule.

The fact he spent his penultimate day on a boat with other elite athletes was very much a bonus and a reason to keep him, and others, coming back.

He enticed fellow runner Dave Mitchinson to come out, his diminutive companion running him close in both Saturday's and Sunday's event.

Mithinson is now hooked and will return next year.

Double KPMG Invitational Front Street Mile winner James Thie recommended friend Neil Speaight join him for his annual January jaunt across the Atlantic.

Speaight, normally more of an 800 metres man, ended up second in the Invitational Mile but has already "pencilled it in the diary" for next year.

"It's a great race," said Speaight, who joined his pal Thie the following day to help pace Bermuda teenage star Dorian Armstrong around the 10K.

"I've never seen crowds like it. Everyone was really great during the race but have also been superb since then.

"I would definitely come back, I can see why a few of the guys have said it is one of their favourite places to come and compete.

"Its not so much about the prizes here compared to other places but it is a great place to compete and the field is really strong considering they don't pay appearance money." Outgoing Bermuda Track and Field Association president Judith Simmons has long said "we don't want to go down the road of paying appearance fees" and it seems, regardless of the weather and the loss of overseas fun runners, they certainly don't need to in order to preserve the integrity and level of competition at the upper end of the International Race Weekend spectrum.