DISTANCE runner Otis Robinson has secured a year-long sponsorship deal with Island Construction's Zane DeSilva on the eve of his return to competitive racing following his eighth place in the May 24 Half Marathon Derby.

The deal should allow Robinson a little more free time to concentrate on the sport, and for DeSilva it is a way of showing support for a senior athlete who can inspire up-and-coming youngsters.

DeSilva is no stranger to distance running, having set the quickest time for a marathon debut by a Bermudian back in the early 1980s at New York when he clocked two hours 52 minutes ¿ his record tumbling a few years later to Manuel Lopes.

Explaining his thinking behind backing Robinson, Desilva said: "Otis has shown he is dedicated. I sponsor a lot of youth already. It is good to sponsor some of the older guys who show dedication to the sport.

"And we all had our older heroes to look up to when we were younger who inspired us," he added, believing that someone like Robinson can be an inspiration to today's youngsters. He also feels Robinson has a few good years left in him as a leading road runner.

Robinson himself has welcomed the sponsorship and said it would allow him the luxury of taking a little bit of rest from working to focus on his goals, which include getting under 1:15 for a half-marathon and a 4:30 or under at the mile.

Runners training through the Bermudian summer may well have felt at times like rock lobsters with the high heat and humidity ¿ certainly Robinson has as he gears up for the Rock n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach at the end of this month.

But it will all be worth it if he achieves his ambition of once more breaking one hour 20 minutes for the distance, and he can look forward to a post race concert featuring the B52s whose hits include 'Rock Lobster' and 'Love Shack.'

Robinson is juggling a training schedule to race over the half marathon distance and then a few weeks later to be sharp enough for a return appearance at the Fifth Avenue Mile in New York, where he set his personal best of 4.50 a year ago.

The Rock n'Roll half marathon in Virginia was already known as a fast course, but has been altered again this year with the organisers declaring it even faster.

May 24 legend Kavin Smith finished 20th in the event in 2002 when he ran 1:10:27 as he followed home winner and former world record holder Paul Tergat, who clocked a time of 1:01:59.

With just over two weeks to go, the race has almost reached its 20,000 capacity.

Robinson's race schedule for the remainder of this year is solely focused on overseas events, with the half marathon at Virginia Beach followed by the Fifth Avenue Mile and then a late autumn half marathon in California where he intends to run Big Sur.

It is only when January comes around that he sees himself taking part in a domestic race ¿ the International Race Weekend Front Street Mile.

For Robinson it is unusual racing and training territory, as his favourite distance is 5K. Switching from half-marathon to mile racing twice in the coming six months will be challenging.

However, at the moment his biggest concern is making it through his training programme during the height of the summer in Bermuda.

"I've been doing tempo runs at racing pace, but it has been a challenge in the heat and humidity," he said.

"I've also done some beach work, and did a two-hour work out there. I did some mile repeats on the track aiming at 5:18s but ran the first too quickly, at 4:59, and then paid for it with the others."

Using the services of an acupuncturist has provided benefits for Robinson as he keeps his body as near optimum fitness and strength as possible with his goal of running around 1:18 or 1:17 at Virginia Beach. His best for the race distance of 13.1 miles was a 1:19 in New York last year.

The Rock n' Roll Half Marathon is held on August 31.