Hi Everyone
On the 19th March I was
on the starting line of one of the most important and challenging running races
in Malta, the Dingli 10miles organised by St. Patrick’s AC. I did not knew the
course a lot as it was the first time that I did the race but the day before my
friend Pawlu Brincat showed me the course by car so that I will have an idea of
it
I soon went into the lead from the
beginning setting my own pace. 3 runners kept my pace and a group of 4 was
leading the race. I did not do the same
mistake as I did in the half marathon to keep the pace of other runners. This
time I was going to just concentrate on my race. I was feeling my legs strong
and reacted well in the hilly parts. At 5 miles to go I made my move. I know
that I don’t have a good sprint finish, however I am strong on the hills and
the second part of the course is very hard so I decided to go for it.
No one tried to stay with me as it
was very early to do such an attack. It was a very risky move but I was feeling
strong and I felt it was the right moment. I opened a lead of 30 seconds. From
then on I never looked back. I kept on
pushing and managed my pace till the end to get this unexpected win in a good
time of 57.43.
A week later I participated in the
tour of Malta. The tour was not in my plans this year but the Maltese Olympic
Committee selected me to represent Malta in the first European Games in Baku,
Azerbajan in June. My coach decided to do the tour as it will be of great
benefit however I had to forget the overall result as I had to keep on the
usual training load. That of training 3 times daily. Before every stage I had
to swim and after I had a run so I was racing on very tired legs.
I had a reasonable good time trail
in the first stage placing 14th overall and 7th Maltese.
I was very unlucky that I did my race in pouring rain so I had to really slow
down in the turnarounds. In the 2nd stage I had managed to stay with
the leading group. I managed to do so until the last lap with I could not keep
up and the main group was divided in two. I ended up in the middle of the
groups. It was very windy and I pushed lot to keep my position but in the last
hill I was very tired and got caught by the group behind me and finished 18th
overall and 9th Maltese
The 3rd stage was
cancelled due to bad weather and my coach gave me a hard training session on
the turbo. The 4th stage was another hilly stage. Legs were dead. I
struggled a lot in the first two laps but by time passing I was getting better
and better. I responded to all the attacks on the main group and managed to
stay with the leading group till he end to finish 8th overall and 3rd
maltese. Overall I finished the tour in 11th place overall and 6th
Maltese.
I am very pleased and very happy
with my performances in both races. It is great to have won the dingli 10miles and
the result in the tour is very significant considering I kept on my usual
training load. I am very surprised and now am looking forward for the upcoming
races
I would like to thank my coach Dermot
Galea, my swimming coach Catalin Stan, my parents and my wife’s parents, my
friend Pawlu Brincat for showing me the Dingli10 course, my masseur owen attard, my nutritionist Johanna Galea, my sponsors Garmin
Malta, BBB Bike Parts Malta, Challenge Malta Marathon, Mochika Outdoor life, Jaycee
Malta and Starbene 24/7, my club Birkirkara St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon
Federation, the Maltese Olympic Committee and the Kunsill Malti ghall-isport
for the constant support. Most of all big big thanks goes to my wife Elizabeth
for her fundamental support and patience.
That's all for now
Yours in Sports
Keith
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