Hi Everyone
Finally I broke the course record
in the 3rd race of the Birkirkara St Joseph Triathlon Series held on the 25th
August. The previous record was of my brother coach Dermot Galea set in 2006 of
59minutes 9 seconds. The weather was perfect and I noticed that with my current
form it was possible to beat the record and make history. I started the race
fast and tried to keep with the swimmers which forms part of the relay teams. I
covered the 750m swim in 11minutes 4 seconds in first place. I was focused to
do a good transition as every seconds count. I attacked immediately the bike. I
set into a very fast pace and I was going for a really good time. In the middle
of the bike I was feeling legs a bit tired as I think I pushed a lot in the
first couple of kilometres.
I had to encounter a problem with
an arriva bendy bus as it really slowed me down yet again. I kept calm and I
still kept on pushing and eased the pace a bit in the last few kilometres to
save some energy for the run. I covered the 20km in 29minutes 17seconds setting
an average speed of 40.5km/hr. I started the run at a fast pace. I kept on
pushing and pushing till I could not push no more. The last few metres were a
very tough as I wanted to push more but I was really at my limit. I gave
everything I had in my body to win the race in a COURSE RECORD TIME of
59minutes 1 second.
I covered the 5km in 17minutes
41seconds and also managed to consolidate my lead in the general classification
as I won the race by 2minutes 30seconds margin. I really trained hard to get
this record. I am a bit disappointed because I could have been the first
triathlete to go under the 59minutes barrier but still am happy to have broken
the record of my brother Dermot, who in my opinion is the best ever Maltese
triathlete.
Before this race I took part in the
last race of the Birkirkara St Joseph 5km running series. It was the final duel
against my club teammate Steve Chetcuti. I started the race with a disadvantage
of 4 seconds in the general classification. I attacked from the first kilometre
but Steve produced a wonderful performance to cover all my attacks and beat me
in a sprint finish. I covered the 5km in 16.22. 4 seconds behind Steve. Steve
did a great comeback after last year he was badly injured. Am glad he is back
in top form. Well done mate you deserve this win!!
I am very happy that finally I
broke the record and now my target is to go under 59minutes. I did my best to
win the 5km series but these races were part of my training schedule and I was
not in the best shape on the start and to finish second is a bonus. I would
like to thank my brother coach Dermot Galea, my swimming coach Catalin Stan, my
parents and my wife’s parents for their support. My club Birkirkara St Joseph
and my sponsors GARMIN MALTA, STARBENE SHOP of Mosta which provides me with supplement
and the NOENE SOLES and BBB Bike parts.
I would like to say a big big
thank you to my wife Elizabeth. Here support is so much important to me. She
gives me most of the strength I have in order to prudence such a good
performance. Thanks my love. Now my next racing commitments are the WORLD
TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS in London on the 15th September.
That’s all for now
Yours in sports, Keith
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