BermudAir has been named the official airline partner of this year’s Bermuda Triangle Challenge.

"We're very pleased to join forces with Chubb BTC, connecting participants to this iconic three-day running event and helping them start their Bermuda experience on board BermudAir,“ said Adam Scott, founder and chief executive of BermudAir.

Those sentiments were echoed by Anna Laura Hocking, member of the Chubb BTC executive committee.

“This partnership with BermudAir enhances the overall experience for our participants, showcasing the beauty of Bermuda from the moment they step on the plane,” she said.

The countdown to the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge gets under way with the Butterfield Mile Trials at the Flora Duffy Stadium today.

The event, which gets under way at 6pm, is for local elite runners from primary-school age right through to the over-70 category.

The fastest 20 qualifiers who run under the eight-minute mark, will be invited to compete in Butterfield Mile races on January 12 in the first event of Triangle Challenge weekend.

For the first time, the Butterfield Mile Open Category has been added to the BTC weekend for those wishing to participate solely in the mile run as opposed to also undertaking the BF&M 10k Run/Walk and the PwC Bermuda Marathon, Half-Marathon or Half-Marathon Relay.

For those interested in meeting fellow participants and fuel up ahead of the marathon or half-marathon event, a limited quantity of tickets are now available for the pasta dinner event, presented by Global Atlantic Re, at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

As part of the event, Olympic medal-winner, New York Times bestselling author and American record-holder Deena Kastor will be the honorary guest speaker.

“During my track career, Deena was well known in the US track and field world as the foremost long-distance female runner in the early 2000s,” said Kastor’s former team-mate, Hazel Clark, Director of Global Business Development and Partnerships at the Bermuda Tourism Authority.

“Her drive and accomplishments inspired each of us to work harder and strive towards the continuous pursuit of our own personal goals.”

• To register for races, including the Half or Full Bermuda Triangle Challenge, visitwww.bermudatrianglechallenge.com/registration