3rd Maltese in Malta Half Marathon

Hi Everyone

Last Sunday I participated in the Malta Half Marathon. This race was my first target of the season. After coming 3^rd and 2^nd respectively in the last two years, this year I was targeting to finish the race as first Maltese. As usual I trained a lot and practiced the course many times in order to adapt myself to the course. However the race turned out to be very tactical among the top Maltese runners and against my characteristics. Weather was not that ideal as it was very windy all the way through with some heavy rain showers so personal best was out of the way

All the Maltese runners started together. We were a group of six at first running at a steady pace. None of us wanted to go in front and set a fast pace. No one even tried to go with the three foreigners in front. At half way point we were a group of four Maltese runners and all of a sudden it started to rain heavily. At the Mriehel by pass we really slowed down and I got so fed up with the pace that went in front and started pushing.

From there it started my race. I started to attack in all the uphills in order to go out from the group. However Mark Herrera and Clive Gerada where on top form . After the Marsa fly-over I attacked again and only Herrera stayed with me. Herrera attacked in the downhill before Valletta and I went straight after him. That was the moment I lost the race as my legs got stiff and heavy. I managed to stay with him and I attacked immediately on the uphill before ‘bieb il bombi’. Managed to open a few meters but Herrera managed to come back and attacked immediately at the sa maison downhill. I went straight after him but this time I could not stay with him

At this moment my legs got stiffer and heavier. I tried so hard to increase my speed but it was useless. I started to have cramps as well. At 2km go Clive Gerada overtook me as well. I could not run properly with my quads in such a bad state. I realised that even 3^rd Maltese was under threat. I really suffered in the last 2km. They were all pain but I was determined to get the 3^rd place at least. So I closed my eyes and gave everything I had left and at least managed a good 6^th overall and 3^rd maltese in a time of 1.14.18 and Birkirkara St Joseph finished 3^rd as a team

Although I did not get the first maltese, I am pleased with my performance. I played all my cards and the way it turned out the race I could not have done better. But I don’t have to forget that I am a triathlete and not a runner and on such distance runners have some advantages on me but it always nice that although I am a triathlete I am still able to fight for the win in the most important running race in Malta. I know I can win this race one day. It’s just a matter of time and patience. I did three consecutive half marathons, all fighting for the win. Now my coach and I have to analysis everything. See what was good and were we have to change and see which tactic is best to use next time

I would like to congratulate Mark Herrera for winning the first maltese for the first time in his career as he deserves it and well done to clive gerada for running such a great race. 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 nutritionist Johanna Calleja, my sponsors Garmin Malta, BBB Bike Parts Malta, Challenge Malta Marathon, Jaycee Malta, Starbene 24/7, Mochika Outdoor life, my club Birkirkara St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon Federation, the Kunsill Malti Ghall-isport and the Malta Olympic Committee for the great support.

Most of all a big thanks goes to my wife Elizabeth Galea for her continuous support and for her patience. Without her I cannot achieve such great results as she is a big part of my inner strength. Thanks a lot to everyone. Now it’s time to focus on the next target.

That’s all for now

Yours in sport

Keith

1st in Dingli 10km

Hi Everyone

The Malta Half Marathon is getting closer and to continue improve my form with the aim to reach my peak for the big day, I participated in the 2^nd edition of the Dingli 10km organised by the Savio Athletic Club. We had to face a very challenging hilly course around Dingli with both start and finish at Savio Collage. There were some strong winds around the course which did not made things easier. 

I made my intentions clear right from the start as I went into lead settling a very fast pace. I was closely followed by my friend and National Polish AG 25-29 Triathlon Champion Piotr Yanuchefski. After 2km Yanuchefski could not keep on with my pace leaving me leading the race alone. Seeing myself in the lead of the race, I decided to continue to push to increase my lead

I was very surprised that my legs were very strong since I had a very tough week of training. It was very tough when running through the cliffs due to the strong winds but was happy that my legs were responding well and could keep up with a good place. I knew that I was going to beat the course record and managed to do so as I went on to win the race in a course record time of 35.08 beating the previous record by more than 6 minutes.

I am very pleased with my performance. I am very happy with my second win of the season and also with the time as it was a very hilly route and the wind was very strong especially when running through the Dingli Cliffs.  I am happy with my current form and am very looking forward for the forthcoming Malta Half Marathon in 2 weeks’ time. A very big well done to my friend Piotr Yanuchefski for placing third posting a strong time of 38.58 and also to my athlete Annetto Schembri for posting a new personal best time on such a difficult course

I would like to thank my brother/coach Dermot Galea, my swimmnig coach Cataloin Stan, my parents and my wife's parents, my masseaur, Owen Attard, my sponsors Garmin Malta, BBB Bike Parts Malta, Jaycee Malta, Challange Malta Marathon and Starbene 24/7, my club Birkirkara St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon Federation, the Kunsill Malti Ghall - isport and the Maltese Olympic Committee for the continuous support. 

Most of all a big thanks goes to my super wife Elizabeth for coming to support me again. Her presence at each and ever race and support is fundamental for me to give my best in every race. Thanks a lot to everyone, this win is also yours.

That’s all for know.

Yours in Sports.

Keith

Great start for 2015: First win of the season and Podium places in Road Running League Races

Hi Everyone

It’s been a long time since my last post. Well, I have been very busy as usual with training. After 2 months of just pure training building for this season, 2015 started on a very good note. November and December were focused on base training with the aim to strengthen my body and to get a lot of mileage in my legs as one of my main targets of this year is the Malta Half Marathon. During these two months I participated in 2 running races which were part of my training schedule so I was not rested well. I did the first stage of the Malta RELAY Challenge Marathon were I placed 3^rd overall and managed to cover the 11.195 in 39minutes. On the 13^th December I did the fleur de lys 5km organised by my club, Birkirkara St Joseph. Unfortunately I was sick for a whole week before the race but still decided to do it to support my club. In the end managed solid 4^th place in 16.50.

As I said before, 2015 started really well. On the 3^rd January I took part in the third race of the MAAA Road Running League which was held in Bugibba on a 5km loop to be repeated twice. I started fast from the word go, trying to hang on as much as I could with Malta’s top long distance runner Andrew Grech. After I realised that I opened a good gap on the group behind me I settled in my own place. It was very windy and it was hard to keep a good pace in a force 8 wind but in the end I managed to finish the race in 2^nd place in a time of 34.30

2 weeks after, I took part in the first race of the Multisport Season which was a sprint Duathlon, organised by Agones SFC at Half Safi. Weather was not that ideal as well as it was windy and the roads were a bit slippery due to some showers before the start of the race. The race was drafting so I knew it was a bit tricky. I went into the lead from the word go trying to get some advantage. I went into T1 with a 20seconds lead. On the bike I pushed more to increase my lead but, my team mate Steve Chetucti and Agones’s Fabio Spiteri were working together to catch me. Since I had a very small lead, I decided to slow down and we formed a group of three leading the race.

Seeing that I was the fastest runner in the group and that nobody was going to catch us, I decided to rest my legs for the final run. Few metres before the end of the bike I attacked as hard as I could which surprised both of my rivals and entered in T2 first. Thanks to a fast transition, I opened a good gap and continued to push in the last run to increase the lead and went on to win my first race of the season

A week after the Duathlon I took part in the fourth race of the MAAA Road Running League which was held at taqali. I used the same tactic as the previous 10km race, but my legs were tired due to the heavy training of the previous days. I was part of a group of five runners. Charlie Cilia of Agones made his move after 4km and I went with him. We were pacing really well and managed to open a good gap from the group behind us. At 1km to go Mark Herrera was fast approaching and was undecided if resting for the sprint finish for second place or continue pushing. Since Herrera had a very good sprint I decided to keep on pushing as I did not want to end up 4^th. I opened a small gap on Cilia and opened my sprint at 150m to go however it was not fast enough as Cilia passed me in the last 50m and finished 3^rd in 34.02

I am very pleased with my performance in all races. Since my main focus is the Malta Half Marathon, I could not rest for every single race so I raced with very tired legs. In the Duathlon I am pleased that my attack worked as it gave me the win and happy that I managed to win the race although am focusing more on running than on multisport events. The results I achieved in both 10km are better than expected which means that I am on the right track. At the moment I am third in the general classification of the Road Running League. I am still in contention for 2^nd place. If I came 2^nd at Taqali would have been much easier to get 2^nd place but now we will see what happens in the last race of the league in April.

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 sponsors Garmin Malta, Jaycee Malta, BBB Bike Parts Malta, Malta Challenge Marathon and Starbene 24/7, my club Birkirakara St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon Federation, the Maltese Olympic committee and the Malta Sports Council for the constant support. Most of all would like to thank my wife Elizabeth for coming to support me in every single race even though she was very sick. Here support is very important to me and am lucky to have her as my wife.

That’s all for now,

Yours in Sports

Keith