{{Short description|Road running event in Bermuda}} {{infobox athletics race | bgcolour = #56BEEB <!-- color taken from marathon logo, lightened from 44% lightness to 63% lightness --> | image = | caption = | date = January | location = Bermuda | type = Road | iaaf_category = | distance = Marathon, half marathon, 10K, mile<ref name="race.info">{{cite web|url=https://www.bermudaraceweekend.com/race-info|title = Race Info|date = 6 October 2012}}</ref> | sponsor = Chubb Limited | beneficiary = | est = {{start date and age|1975|p=y}} (marathon)<ref name="about">{{cite web|url=https://www.bermudaraceweekend.com/race-weekend/about|title = ABOUT|date = 4 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="arrs">{{cite web|url=https://arrs.run/HP_BrmMa.htm|title = Bermuda Marathon}}</ref> | record = | homepage = {{Official website}} | participants = Over 1,500 (2020)<ref name="2020.results">{{cite web|url=https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/74520#resultSetId-182829;perpage:5000 |title=The Royal Gazette Bermuda Triangle Challenge. Fri January 15 - Sun January 17, 2021 |publisher=runsingnup.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201008214954/https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/74520%23resultSetId-182829;perpage:5000 |archive-date=8 October 2020}}</ref> }}
The '''Bermuda Triangle Challenge''' (BTC)<ref name=BermudaRaceWeekend>{{Cite book|last=Kuehls|first=Dave|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UskDAAAAMBAJ&q=bermuda+race+weekend+elite+runner&pg=PA111|title=Runner's World|date=June 2008|publisher=Rodale, Inc.|isbn=|location=|pages=111–112|language=en}}</ref> (also known as the '''Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge''', and formerly known as the '''Bermuda Marathon Weekend'''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Horowitz|first=Jeffrey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VBbdV2aONKIC&q=Bermuda+marathon&pg=PA111|title=My First 100 Marathons: 2,260 Miles with an Obsessive Runner|date=2008-10-17|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc.|isbn=978-1-60239-318-9|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Treadwell|first=Sandy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sHVYAAAAYAAJ&q=Bermuda+marathon|title=The World of Marathons|date=1987|publisher=Stewart, Tabori & Chang|isbn=978-0-941434-98-0|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Vaccariello|first=Linda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9x4DAAAAMBAJ&q=Magazines+Bermuda+Marathon&pg=PA56|title=Cincinnati Magazine|date=December 1995|publisher=Emmis Communications|isbn=|location=|page=56|language=en}}</ref>) is a road race event held on the island of Bermuda.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bakoulis|first=Gordon|date=1999-09-01|title=Running Away: Bermuda|url=https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20808403/running-away-bermuda/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Runner's World|language=en-US}}</ref> The marathon has been held since 1975, while the challenge was created in 2008.{{r|about}}{{r|arrs}} The three-day running challenge takes place throughout Bermuda and includes a mile run on Friday evening, either the 10K run or walk on Saturday morning, and either the half or full marathon on Sunday.<ref name="2020.program">{{Cite web | url=https://www.bermudaraceweekend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BTC_EventProgram_2020.pdf | title=Bermuda Triangle Challenge - Official Program | access-date=2024-06-07 | website=www.bermudaraceweekend.com}}</ref>{{efn|With regards to our sponsors, the runs are entitled the Bank of Butterfield Front Street Mile, the BF&M 10k Run/Walk, the PwC Bermuda Half Marathon, and the PwC Bermuda Marathon.<ref name=RunBlog>{{cite web|date=2018-01-17|title=Ali on the Run's Bermuda Triangle Challenge 2018 Recap|url=https://www.aliontherunblog.com/2018/01/17/bermuda-triangle-challenge-2018-recap/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Ali On The Run|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=10 Beach Races Worth Booking a Ticket For|url=https://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/10-beach-destination-runs-your-next-racecation|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Shape|language=EN}}</ref><ref name=bernews>{{cite web|date=2019-07-19|title=Butterfield & BF&M Sponsor Triangle Challenge|url=https://bernews.com/2019/07/butterfield-bfm-sponsor-triangle-challenge/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Bernews}}</ref><ref name=UPI>{{cite web|title=Running over the holidays;NEWLN:UPI Special Package -- Winter Vacation '85|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/12/16/Running-over-the-holidaysNEWLNUPI-Special-Package-Winter-Vacation-85/8503503557200/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=UPI|language=en}}</ref><ref name=NYM>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bdF9SYJ7hsQC&q=Grete+Waitz+runs+Bermuda&pg=PA80|title=New York Magazine|date=1990-03-05|publisher=New York Media, LLC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2019-11-01|title=PwC Sponsors Bermuda Triangle Challenge|url=https://bernews.com/2019/11/pwc-lead-sponsor-bermuda-triangle-challenge/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Bernews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IsgDAAAAMBAJ&q=runner's+world+Bermuda&pg=PA56|title=Runner's World|date=January 2007|publisher=Rodale, Inc.|language=en}}</ref>}}
The event takes place in January,<ref name=BermudaRaceWeekend /> coinciding with the holiday weekend in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. observed in the United States.
Race participants include runners from over 25 countries.<ref name=B4U>{{cite web|title=Bermuda Triangle Challenge 2020 - Bermuda Marathon|url=https://www.bermuda4u.com/listings/marathon-weekend/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Bermuda 4u|language=en-US}}</ref>{{efn|This includes runners from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Ethiopia, Kenya, Singapore, and China.<ref name=B4U />}} Elite runners have included Olympic and World Champions and former world record holders such as Douglas Wakiihuri, Steve Jones, Steve Cram, Frank Shorter, Geoff Smith, Ron Hill, Tyler Butterfield,<ref>{{cite web|title=Bermuda Olympian and professional triathlete Tyler Butterfield will make his debut at the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon|url=https://mybestruns.com/rnd/_Bermuda_Olympian_and_professional_triathlete_Tyler_Butterfield_will_make|access-date=2020-07-01|website=mybestruns.com/}}</ref> Paula Radcliffe,<ref>{{cite web|last=Clarke|first=Ross|title=Running legend Paula Radcliffe star attraction at Triangle Challenge|url=https://www.royalgazette.com/running-triathlon/sport/article/20260116/running-legend-paula-radcliffe-star-attraction-at-triangle-challenge/access-date=2026-19-01|website=The Royal Gazette|date=16 January 2026|language=en-US}}</ref> Kathrine Switzer and Grete Waitz.<ref name=UPI /><ref name=NYM/><ref>{{cite web|last=Neil|first=Scott|title=Stunning performances have stood test of time {{!}} The Royal Gazette:Bermuda Supplement|url=http://www.royalgazette.com/supplement/article/20200116/stunning-performances-have-stood-test-of-time|access-date=2020-07-01|website=The Royal Gazette|date=16 January 2020|language=en-US}}</ref>
The race is supported by a number of top sponsors including - Chubb Limited, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Bank of N.T. Butterfield, BF&M Insurance, Gosling Brothers, Bacardi Limited, Hamilton Princess, Zurich Insurance, Butterfield & Vallis, Strata-G Ltd & many others.
== History ==
The marathon was first held on {{dts|1975.01.15|format=dmy}} as the Bermuda International Marathon.{{r|about}} Seven runners participated, although only five finished the race.{{r|about}} The marathon was not held again in 1976, but it returned in 1977.{{r|about}}
In 1978, the 10K race was added.{{r|about}} That same year, Joan Benoit Samuelson ran her first marathon here, after having won the inaugural 10K the previous day.{{r|about}}{{r|benoit}} She treated the marathon as a long workout, and ended up in second place with a time of 2:50:54.<ref name="benoit">{{Cite book|last1=Benyo|first1=Richard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kqc1SkRr9UwC&q=Running+Encyclopedia+-+Bermuda&pg=PA28|title=Running Encyclopedia|last2=Henderson|first2=Joe|date=2002|publisher=Human Kinetics|isbn=978-0-7360-3734-1|language=en}}</ref>
In 1989, the mile race was added, and in 1993, the half marathon was also added.{{r|about}}
== Courses == {{external media|image1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20200114112905if_/https://www.bermudaraceweekend.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bermuda-Marathon-Map-01.jpg Course map of full marathon in 2020]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bermudaraceweekend.com/ |title=Homepage - Bermuda Triangle Challenge |website=www.bermudaraceweekend.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114112606/https://www.bermudaraceweekend.com/ |archive-date=14 January 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
The event features scenic courses along the coast and beaches of Bermuda and through historic sections of the island showcasing the island’s unique architecture. The point-to-point PricewaterhouseCoopers Bermuda Marathon course, which was redesigned in 2020, is IAAF certified and a Boston Marathon qualifier.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bermuda Triangle Challenge Race Reviews {{!}} Hamilton, Bermuda|url=https://raceraves.com/races/bermuda-triangle-challenge/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=RaceRaves|language=en-US}}</ref> The marathon course begins in Sandy's Parish at the Royal Navy Dockyard and travels through Ireland Island, Boaz Island around The Great Sound and continues along the Bermuda Railway trail and over the smallest drawbridge in the world, Somerset Bridge. The trail continues through Southampton Parish taking in the views of Gibb's Hill Lighthouse and the pink south shore beaches including Horseshoe Bay and Elbow Beach. The marathon course meets the half marathon course in Paget Parish and passes along the Bermuda Botanical Garden's and into Smith's Parish along Spittal Pond and Devil's Hole then continues into Flatt's Village along the North Shore Road by Government House and turns at Spanish Point and heads towards the City of Hamilton finishing at Hamilton Harbor.
== Winners and record holders == Andy Holden won the event marathon in a time of 2:15:20 in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|last=Neil|first=Scott|title=Record man Holden dies at 65 {{!}}|url=https://www.royalgazette.com/sport/article/20140701/record-man-holden-dies-aged-65|access-date=2026-01-16|website=The Royal Gazette|date=7 January 2014|language=en-US}}</ref> That time has not been bettered and is the event's longest standing record.
== Other activities ==
The event includes leading speakers such as Bart Yasso, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Frank Shorter from the sports and health world<ref>{{Cite book|last=Maffetone|first=Philip|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=itA3WWidJ9wC&q=Bermuda+marathon&pg=PA8|title=The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing|date=2010-09-22|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.|isbn=978-1-61608-065-5|language=en}}</ref> and the BF&M 10k<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Sagert|first1=Kelly Boyer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b_kTU8LfcqAC&q=joan+benoit+samuelson+speaker+at+bermuda+race+weekend&pg=PA24|title=Icons of Women's Sport [2 volumes]|last2=Overman|first2=Steven J.|date=2012-02-13|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-38549-0|language=en}}</ref> and PwC Half and Full Marathons culminate with a Finish Festival & Award Presentation Celebrations with live entertainment, free food and local adult refreshments. On Sunday, following the PwC events, the celebration takes place in Barr’s Bay Park overlooking Hamilton Harbor. Added to the festivities are bands, Gombey dancers, DJ’s and local celebrations along all the race courses.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Royal Gazette Bermuda Triangle Challenge|url=https://runsignup.com/Race/Photos/BM/Hamilton/BermudaTriangleChallengeWeekend|access-date=2020-07-01|website=The Royal Gazette Bermuda Triangle Challenge|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Marathons in North America Category:Road running competitions