At 61 there isn't much that Kathrine Switzer hasn't done when it comes to running, and there isn't much left for her to do.

The first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1967, she is now an author, a TV commentator and a consultant for Fairmont hotels around the world. She spends her year split equally between New Zealand and the US, working on her books, her business and occasionally her running.

And yet, she is back in Bermuda this week for the second year running to compete in the Bermuda Triangle Challenge (BTC), part of the International Race Weekend.

Last year was Switzer's first competitive race for some time, and it was one that re-ignited a passion for her sport. The prize-money for winning her age group helped as well.

"I'd more or less stopped competing in the last couple of years, but had certainly kept up my own fitness running," she said. "I've really kind of been re-ignited by this thing."

The 'thing' is the BTC, comprising tonight's Mile, tomorrow's 10K, and in Switzer's case Sunday's half-marathon. The challenge provides a chance to run in Bermuda in what might be considered by locals to be bad weather that is generally considered to be a Godsend by those from overseas.

"Foreigners are under the impression that every weekend is a day in paradise in Bermuda," said Switzer. "The day of the half-marathon last year I got the four horsemen – heat, humidity, head wind and hills. What probably is bad weather for Bermudians is actually pretty good running weather."

While the challenge has fired Switzer's competitive spirit, running remains an integral part of her character.

"Running is kind of what I'm about, I often joke that it's my sanity and and my vanity," she said.

"I believe it keeps me healthy, but mentally it's my creative process, it's the time I get out there and kick-butt and I get out my agressions. But then if I'm out there long enough then I really get creative and come up with my very best ideas, whether it's for another book or sports programme or for Fairmont, or whatever.

"And in fact I have been advising Fairmont on things globally in terms of running and my best ideas have come on the runs. I came up with an absolutely brilliant one ([for Fairmont). They have a property in St Andrews (in Scotland), and we're talking about doing a Chariots of Fire run because the beach-shot from the film was shot at St Andrews.

"The problem with coming up with great creative ideas on the run is that you have to keep repeating it like a mantra, because your brain is free-floating, the more tired you get, the more you forget some of the ideas. So you just have to keep repeating them, repeating them and then rush to write it down once you're finished."

The creative process helps in other ways as well.

"He helps a little bit with the rhythm of the run," said Switzer. " But not as much as keeping your brain off the pain, not thinking about the steepness of the hill, or the wind you're running into."