A new-look half-marathon and the second running of the Bacardi 8K, both before the end of this month, will push the Island's road running season into top gear.

The new half-marathon, to be staged in conjunction with a 10K race, is actually a re-routed version of the former BTFA Half-Marathon from St. George's to Hamilton.

With dwindling numbers, caused in part by the remote starting line and it being a point-to-point race of 13.1 miles, the BTFA event was in danger of losing all relevance unless given a new lease of life.

That is what race director Glenn Robinson, of Ashlan Sports, hopes to achieve with the half-marathon now starting and finishing in the city and utilising the International Race Weekend route in the reverse direction.

However, before the 13.1 mile event and 10K go under starters orders it will be the turn of the Bacardi 8K to once again take to the streets as it aims to build upon its tremendous inaugural race last year.

Once again the race, over the rarely run distance, is sponsored by the drinks company and starts and finishes outside Bacardi's headquarters on Pitts Bay Road.

Last year around 300 runners and walkers took part on the testing route which looped out to Spanish Point and then along North Shore Road before cutting back to St. John's Road and returning along Pitts Bay Road.

Bacardi 8K race director Stephen Egan said: "Last year we had more than 300 take part; 100 walkers and 200 runners, and it was a great day and it went really well."

A race breakfast will again be laid on and competitors – all of whom must be 18 or older – will be able to challenge for 26 prizes across various age groups, including prizes for first, second and third in the senior masters category.

Spot prizes featuring travel vouchers and other gifts have been lined up for the event on November 23.

Egan said feedback from competitors in the first event had been overwhelmingly positive, with many enjoying the challenge of the new course and distance and being able to use it as a stepping-stone towards January's International Race Weekend.

The weekend after the Bacardi race it is the turn of the new-look BTFA Half-Marathon and the Beyond Barriers 10K, both races starting together on Bermudiana Road.

For many years the autumn half-marathon has been run as a point-to-point race from St. George's to Hamilton. But runners were increasingly finding it cumbersome to reach the start line and transport their gear to the finish 13.1 miles away.

While the route was picturesque and produced a number of competitive times by Jay Donawa in recent years, it has been failing to attract a race field of more than 40 or 50 lately.

Race boss Robinson hopes that will soon change now that the race has been switched to the city and is run on the International Race Weekend half-marathon course, albeit in the reverse direction.

A 10K race, known as the Beyond Barriers, is being held in conjunction and will take runners up towards Spanish Point and then along North Shore Road before cutting through to Palmetto Road and returning to the centre of town.

Robinson said: "We took a poll of runners and many said that with the old race it took two people to get to the start of the race with a partner or family member driving them there.

"We decided we had to make it more appealing, and if we are to attract potential sponsors we need to increase interest in the race."

Many runners on the Island are still unaware that the BTFA Half-Marathon is now going to be a Hamilton-start loop course run.

Part of the proceeds from the half-marathon and 10K will go to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organisation.

Both the half-marathon and 10K start at 8.30 a.m. Entries can be made online at www.ashlansports.com or at Sportseller in Washington Mall. The races will be chip timed.

Race entries for the Bacardi 8K, which will also be chip timed, can be made online through the www.maac.bm website where entry forms can also be downloaded if preferred and filled out and taken to Sportseller or Bacardi by November 19.

The 8K walk starts at 8.30 a.m., while the 8K run is at 9 a.m.

Meanwhile, this weekend will allow runners to test themselves in two races.

The BTFA's cross-country series continues today with Swan's Running Club organising the races at the Arboretum. Juniors start at 8.00 a.m. and the adult runners at 9. 00 a.m.

The junior event will be the second in the KPMG Series.

Tomorrow sees the annual BAC Kool Running 5K, starting from Mills Creek at 9.00 a.m. – a race with a difference with athletes having to predict their finishing times before starting.

The Mid-Atlantic Athletic Club race awards prizes to those who come closest to the finishing time they predicted, as well as the overall winners.