Mayho Set For Bermuda Day Run Debut
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Top cyclist Dominique Mayho is trading in his wheels for running shoes as he prepares to make his debut in the Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby tomorrow [May 23].
A record six-time champion of the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race, Mayho has long dominated local cycling.
However, this year, the 31-year-old is stepping outside his comfort zone to take on the island’s most celebrated road race – on foot.
“I just want to try something new and switch things up a bit,” Mayho told Bernews.
“I started running in the winter and enjoyed it. I thought I might as well give May 24 a go and run it at least once in my life.”
Mayho insists his detour into running is temporary, however. His heart, he says, remains firmly with cycling.
“I’ll end up returning [to the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race] at some point – cycling is my first love,” he said.
“I’ll never be able to fully leave the sport.
“I figured I might as well do the run before my body breaks down! I can continue cycling for much longer.”
The half-marathon is a different beast from the fast-paced, high-adrenaline burst of the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race, with Mayho’s decision to run the 13.1-mile course from St George’s to Hamilton driven by a desire to connect more deeply with the spirit of Bermuda Day.
“The bike race is early in the day so there are less people out on the roads, plus we’re going so fast that you can’t really soak up the atmosphere,” said Mayho, who missed last year’s cycling race as he was overseas.
“It’s hard to really enjoy it. It will be fun to hear people cheering me on and seeing the crowds – that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”
Although he has been training consistently for several months, Mayho, who recently became a father for the first time, is realistic about his prospects.
“I’m not a natural runner,” he added. “I’m not competing for the top ten or anything. I’d like to break 1hr 30min, but I’m not sure that will happen.”
For extensive coverage of Bermuda Day spanning the past 15 years, visit our website BDADay.com , the island’s most comprehensive resource on the Bermuda Day holiday.
- Over 8,000 photos here
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- Dedicated website: BDADay.com
