Ringing endorsements of Bermuda International Race Weekend have been made by two influential voices from the world of road running.

Both Kathrine Switzer and Andrew Hersam competed in the three-day running festival, taking part in the inaugural Bermuda Triangle Challenge which involved running a mile on Front Street, a 10K the following day and then either a marathon or half-marathon on the final day.

They feel Race Weekend has the potential to bounce back as a popular destination event for overseas athletes.

"This has been a fantastic weekend. Without question it is one of the most innovative weekends in running. For me it was an experience of a lifetime to run a road race mile," said Andrew Hersam, vice president and publisher of Runner's World magazine.

He said the magazine, which is sold across the world, will run a two-page article on Race Weekend in a future issue.

And even though women's marathon legend Switzer now lives on the other side of the world in New Zealand she hopes to return again next year.

"The whole event was a wonderful way to see the Island. The best thing about running is you get 'into' a country and culture more than an ordinary visitor. You run through a country and see the people outside on their lounge chairs supporting you and kids stretching out their hands to touch you," she said.

Underlining the sentiment Switzer mentioned a householder who came to the roadside at the 11-mile point on the half-marathon course and offered segments of oranges to tired runners as they passed.

Publisher Hersam along with Switzer, who made worldwide headlines after becoming the first woman to run with an official race number in the 'men-only' Boston Marathon in 1967, were amongst guests at last weekend's running festival.

But both showed their active side by participating in the three-race Triangle event (results page 24).

Hersam said: "I'd always found it difficult to run in Bermuda, so this was a great opportunity to run on the roads. I've run seven or eight marathons and I would rank this the top event.

"Going along South Road at about five miles in the half-marathon you get the breeze coming up and the water spray from the sea brushing you as it is carried by the wind."

Like Switzer he noted the community participation from people supporting at the roadside and from their gardens.

"I can't see how this event can't take off," he added. There was an extra special reason for Hersam to remember the weekend as his daughter Maggie won a 10K race prize in the 12-19 age category.

Switzer also won her age group in the 10K and was runner-up of the same category in the half-marathon.

During the awards presentation she announced that, in her nearly 50 years of competiting as an athlete, it was the first time she had won a cash prize. She promptly invited everyone to share a drink at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel bar until the money was all gone.

The women's running heroine was impressed with the way the awards' ceremony was professionally run and attended by dignitaries including the Governor Sir Richard Gozney and Sports Minister El James.

She said: "Runners are always looking for something different and to make the next time they do something that bit more different. The (Triangle) Challenge will be something they will want to do."

Switzer is confident the Race Weekend, and particularly the new three-race challenge, will bring more competitors back to the Island, and she added: "I would love to see more people from Bermuda getting involved, either running or helping out. It is a great showcase for the Island."

During her time on the Island Switzer also visited the Bermuda High School for Girls, at the request of Bermuda International runner Ashley Estwanik, and spoke to students there. Estwanik later credited Switzer with giving her the inspiration that day to later break her own KMPG Front Street Mile record.

Switzer is working with Fairmont Hotels to promote healthy pursuits for hotel guests, and she sees the Bermuda Triangle Challenge as fitting well with that drive. At the same time Fairmont is looking to strength its already considerable support for Race Weekend.

As for herself, Switzer - who signed books and posed for countless photographs with fellow runners during the weekend - said she had enjoyed her time in Bermuda and participating and hoped to be back in 2009.