IT was 1977 when the Mid-Atlantic Athletics Club was founded by a group of enthusiasts who had caught the running 'bug' that had swept across the US and was heading towards Europe.

Over the intervening 30 years the club has evolved into one of main organising groups for running events on the Island, as well as a community of like-minded people who meet up in regular training groups, many before the crack of dawn.

As it marks its 30th anniversary, MAAC is continuing to push itself forward with new ideas, not least a new-look website.

A Clydesdale section for those heavier and "velocity challenged" runners has been formed and is thriving.

Club president Chris Page explained the Clydesdale concept: "It is aim at larger runners and those who are not competitive. It is a group for people likeminded and performance-wise.

"It adds a new branch to the club and it fits with the philosophy of the club being all-inclusive."

With MAAC now moving into its fourth decade, it is also aware there is a continuous turnover of runners entering and leaving the Island . . . many of whom do not know where to go to meet up with others for training runs and social events.

The club has no physical base, but its website is now known colloquially as "The Clubhouse" and which, more than ever now, is filling the role of a place where information about club events, a photo gallery, calendar and useful sporting links can be found.

Throughout the year the club puts on events, including next weekend's PartnerRe women's 5K, the annual Fairmont to Fairmont race, Lindo's to Lindo's 10K, the weight-handicap 5K at St. George's, the Fidelity Couples' Race and its own off-beat King/Queen of the Dunes event on the beach.

MAAC is also helping to organise an all-new event for the athletics' calendar, which takes place on November 18 ¿ the Bacardi 8K.

The club acts like a hub/facility for people to create informal training groups, said Page.

Some of the groups set off in the pre-dawn darkness, covering up to 10 miles before the sun appears. The groups vary in make-up according to fitness and competitiveness. There are Sunday morning groups that use the Railway Trail and often end up back at someone's house for a bite of breakfast, while others prefer to pound out the miles and go as close to mimicking a marathon distance in training as possible.

One of the more popular sessions is Wednesday evenings at the National Sports Centre's running track, where leading coach Steve Burgess is highly regarded for his ability to organise training schedules to suit the individuals who show up. Those track sessions, seen as key to anyone with serious ambitions to qualify for January's International Race Weekend Front Street Mile, or improve their times at longer distances, are due to re-commence after the Bermuda Music Festival concludes this weekend.

When it comes to social events the club arranges everything from fun golf days to barbeques and beach award parties, as well as more informal house gatherings.

MAAC also has access to a number of reserved slots in the Boston and New York marathons.

"The website is a place where people can go to if they want to know about running in Bermuda. There they can find out about the track sessions and other training groups, about events, see race results and photos," said Page.

"There are a lot of informal running groups that are run from within the club. In fact, when we took a closer look we found there was an informal running group meeting almost every day."

The finishing touches are being put to the MAAC club championship series, which will require members to participate in a number of different race distances and have their time age-adjusted to decide who is the best runner, as well as awards for the overall winners and age-group best.

Youngsters are not left out. The club is working with KPMG to finalise details of this season's mile race series, which is to feature three races over differing terrain.

The MAAC website can be found at www.maac.bm