Two world-renowned great marathon runners have given Bermuda International Race Weekend ringing endorsements.

Kenya's former world marathon champion Douglas Wakiihuri and American legend Dick Beardsley praised the organisation and spirit of the three-day running festival after witnessing it first-hand.

And Wakiihuri, who also took Olympic marathon silver at the 1988 Seoul Games, hopes not only to come back next year to compete, but also to strengthen links between his homeland of Kenya and Bermuda.

"I liked the energy of the event, it is was very good," said Wakiihuri, who won the London Marathon and New York Marathon in 1989 and 1990 respectively. He was particularly impressed by the junior KPMG Front Street Mile races last Friday evening.

"The mile races for the kids were great. I'm very keen on the kids because they are our hopes for tomorrow," he said.

The road-running legend spoke with enthusiasm about how the event encouraged youngsters and reflected what he is trying to achieve amongst youngsters in Kenya, and he said he may attempt to organise a road mile race for youngsters in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

On all three days of racing, Wakiihuri showed up as a spectator and to offer support. If he was to suggest any change it would be to have a slightly earlier start time for the marathon on Sunday – a view echoed by a number of other competitors.

"I think on the second half of the marathon it was a little bit hot. I thought maybe the marathon people could start an hour earlier (before the half-marathon)," he said.

The multi-international marathon champion, who also took gold in the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland and the 1995 World Cup in Athens, has a vision to link up the Island with Kenya through a form of athlete exchange.

He has spoken to a number of people on the Island about the idea, including Government officials. Wakiihuri envisages young Kenyan runners travelling to the Island to compete in races, such as Race Weekend, gaining experience and international exposure.

In return, a number of Bermuda athletes could travel to Kenya and learn about training techniques from their African counterparts and benefit from high altitude training.

"We could have four slots for Bermuda athletes from any sport, who could get sponsors to allow them to come to Kenya for a while.

"It would be beneficial before the 2012 Olympics, but before that we need to have a trial so we can see if there are any problems."

Wakiihuri came to the Island after a chance meeting with leading local runner Victoria Fiddick at the Toronto Marathon. He said he appreciated the hospitality, and also the offer of athletics kit from the Mid Atlantic Athletic Club, which will be distributed to youngsters at schools and in the slum areas of Nairobi so that they can train.

A shipment of 7,000 old and new running shoes is also being sent to Wakiihuri from Japan – a country where he famously trained himself to world champion status – to help young Kenyan runners.

It had been hoped the Kenyan legend would accompanying two up-and-coming elite runners to this year's Race Weekend, but a problem with transit visas prevented the runners reaching Bermuda. Wakiihuri, 47, intends to overcome that hurdle next year and also wants to compete in the Bermuda Triangle Challenge, running the mile, 10K and half-marathon on consecutive days.

American Beardsley, 53, who jointly won the first London Marathon in 1981 and most famously battled the-then world record holder Alberto Salazar in the 'Duel in the Sun' Boston Marathon of 1982, had hoped to run this year's Challenge. However, he pulled a hamstring muscle the day after he arrived on the Island.

He and his wife Jill took part in the mile race on Friday evening, but decided it was unwise to race the following two days.

Speaking after the awards ceremony on Sunday, Beardsley said: "The event was splendid, everyone has been so hospitable and the races went off without a hitch.

"My only disappointment was not taking part. We got here on the Tuesday and I went for a run on the Wednesday when it was wet. I don't know what happened, but my hamstring just cramped up.

"I want to come back next year and do the entire Challenge. I had hoped to use it this year as a stepping stone towards running my first marathon since I got my new (replacement) knee."

Of Bermuda, Beardsley said: "We just love the beaches and the pastel colour of the houses. We went to Dockyard and looked back across the bay and it was just amazing."

Another runner who took part on Sunday was two-time May 24 women's champion Dawn Richardson. She flew in from England to take part in the International Marathon, where she was third woman, and seventh overall, in 3.08.24.

The break from the snow and ice of the UK has been welcome. Richardson described trying to train in many inches of snow; the slippery conditions caused her back pain and she switched to training indoors, attempting to run mile repetitions on a gym treadmill.

Despite the less than perfect preparation – coupled with the shock of running in far warmer conditions – Richardson beat her best time for the course by three minutes.

Of being back on the Island, she said: "I have missed the beauty of the place and my friends here, and I would like to keep coming back for races."