Hi Everyone
After the great experience I had at the first European Games in Baku, it was time again to race here in Malta. On the 29th June, the St Patrick's Athletic Club organised their aquathlon for the second consecutive year at Marsaxlokk. The race was 2 weeks after Baku which were all full of heavy training so I was not that fresh as I wished on race race day, but I was determined to do a great race and improve my time from last year.
I started at my usual fast pace. I was leading the race together with Mark Herrera, national team Track athlete and National Champion in various track events. I did my best to stay with him as I knew he is a very fast run and I can start aiming for a good personal best from the beginning. Mark entered in T1 first covering the 2.5km in 7.58. I came in 9 seconds later. I had a good transition and started the swim at a steady pace.
I could not swim fast from the beginning as It is very strange to swim after a run. You have to control the breathing first and set into a good momentum before one starts pushing. After I got myself together, I managed to set into a pace and managed to open a wide gap. I covered the 1km in 14.58. At this point i realized that if I do a good 2nd run a course record was possible. I really pushed myself to the limit and thanks to a second run of 8.27, I crossed the finishing line first in a course record time of 32.38. 1 minute 30sec better than last year
Apart from the aquathlon I took part in 2 2km swimming races and in 1 5km race both in a series organised by the Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club. Both swims were good coming 4th and 5th respectively and managing to clock a personal best time of 26.59 in the third race of the swimming series. In the 5km I came 1st Maltese and 2nd overall behind a very fast track athlete from Sweden clocking a personal best time on the course of `16.16, 3 seconds only away from my personal best and 6 seconds only behind the winner.
I am very pleased with my performances. The fact that I managed to produce personal best and very fast times especially that I kept on training normal is very significant and very positive. Now am focused on the next races in Malta before I fly to Poland for a training camp. I would like to thank my brother coach Dermot Galea. my swimming coach Catalin Stan, my masseur Owen Attard, my parents and my wife's parents, my brother in Law Neil and his wife Alin and my nutritionist Johanna Galea. Most of all a big thanks goes to my wife elizabeth for her her great support and patience.
I would like to thank my sponsors Garmin Malta, BBB Bike Parts Malta, Jaycee Malta, Challange Malta Marathon, Starbene 24/7, Mochika Outdoor Sports Life and Lucida Laundry, my club Birkirkar St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon Federation, the Kunsill Malti ghall-isport for the Flexi Training Scheme and the Maltese Olympic Committee for the continous support.Would like to say a big well done to my athelte Annetto Schembri for posting a personal best time of 3 minutes from last year and a well done for St Patrick's AC for organising such a successful event.
That's all for now
Yours in Sports
Keith
