A compact but enthusiastic fundraising team travelled to Malta for the island’s annual marathon. Raising funds for charity stem4, the runners and walkers braved really tough weather conditions to complete the course which runs from Malta’s old capital Mdina to the waterfront at Sleima.
Unlike previous events where the sun has been much in evidence, this year the heavens opened and the wind howled. Huge puddles formed along the route, and eventually most participants gave up trying to dodge the water, powering through instead!
Our only full marathon runner this year, John came in with a chip time of just under 4 hours (3:59:27), very impressive given the incessant rainfall and waterlogged roads. John came 7th in his age group and 338th in gender ranking. He’s aiming to reduce this at the Southampton marathon in April, in readiness for the London Marathon later this year, when he will once again be fundraising for stem4.
Yvette Nieslony from stem4 achieved a really impressive chip time of 2:14:59. Yvette came 26th in her age group and 470th in gender ranking. Late entrant Nihara Krause from stem4 completed the half marathon in 3:04:06, 26th in her age group and 723rd in gender ranking. This was without any training, so a huge well done to Nihara!
Once again, fundraising efforts were added to by our marketing agency Terra Ferma Media who participated in the 21km walkathon. Taking it at a gentle – if wet – pace this year, David Fernando came in at 3:34:22, 69th in his age group. Photographer Nina Assam came across the line at the same time, 81st in her age group.
In total, over 2,800 people took part in the Malta marathon this year. Amazingly, despite the conditions a new course record was set by Briton Jemima Farley, with 2:35:41, whilst first man home was Moroccan runner Alaa Hrioued in 2:18:54.
Between them the team raised just under £2,700. And there’s still time to donate to the wonderful charity stem4, which focuses on increasing access to early evidence-based mental health interventions to protect the mental health of children and young people. If you’d like to top up the total, the link to the main fundraising page is: https://stem4.enthuse.com/pf/malta-marathon-round3
The rain didn’t dampen enthusiasm for the event, and everyone is keen to go again in 2025. Here’s hoping the weather is a little better next February!
