First win of the season on foreign soil

Hi Everyone

Recently I participated in the first Satiro Sprint Duathlon held in Mazara del Vallo in the Region of Trapani in Sicily. The race consisted of the 5km around the historical place of Mazara, 20km on the promenade of San Vito and finish again with a 2.5km Run. The weather was really good but it was very windy which made the bike very difficult for us athletes. Unfortunately few days before the race I got sick so I did not know how my body was going to react under race pace intensity. For sure I knew it was not going to be an easy race

I went immediately in front setting my own pace. Only Mario Giordano of Multisport Catania managed to keep up with my pace. We entered together in T1 and started the bike together helping each other opening agood  gap from the rest of the field. Due to strong winds and not feeling 100% it was useless to attack so I decided to keep on working with Giordano and leave everything for the last run.

After a good T2 I went out of the transition leading the race with Giordano hot on my heels but I noticed that he was struggling and kept a sustained pace until 100m from the finishing line where I opened my sprint finish to win the race in 59.08. This was my2^nd win of the season and the first one on foreign soil. I am very pleased that I managed to win the race even though I was not well but in my opinion winning the race on a weak body means that I am in a very good shape.

I  would like to thank Sportmalta for funding this race and for the Flexi training scheme, my coach Ivan Rozhnov and my brother Dermot Galea, my family and my wife’s family, my nutritionist Johanna Galea, my masseur Owen Attard and my sponsors www.garminmalta.com, BBB Cycling Malta, Jaycee Malta, Saracino Café, Scott Bikes, Starbene 24/7, Team Barry Malta International Challenge Marathon, Lucida Laundry, emviigee

PR&Marketing, my Club Birkirkara St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon Federation and the Maltese Olympic Committee for the constant support

Most of all a big tanks goes to my wife Elizabeth and my daughter Elise for being there for me every time I need them and for their great support and patience which are very fundamental for me

That’s all for Now

Yours in sports

Keith

Hardest win but one of the most beautiful of my career

Hi Everyone

On the 12^th February the 2017 multisport season kicked off with the traditional Draft – Legal Sprint Duathlon organised by Agones Sfc in conjunction with Hal Safi Local Council. The race was held in the circuit of Hal Safi and consisted of a 4.4km RUN – 18KM Bike and 2.2km Run. Before this race I took part in several running and cycling races placing 3^rd in the Urban Jungle Valletta 10km and in the 3000m Pre Season meeting at the Marsa Track

It looked from the very beginning that it was going a tight battle between Shaun Galea, David Agius Lia and myself. We pulled away from the rest of the group and came in together in T1 covering the first run in a time of 15.09. I tried to make the bike difficult from the very beginning as I attacked immediately in the first kilometre. However Shaun and Agius Lia were hot on my heels. I did not give up and I continued to attack to build a gap on my nearest competitors however they were all unsuccessful as both of them paid great attention to all my moves. Then I decided to slow down and rest my legs for the final run. We covered the bike in 32.07.

                                                 

Agius Lia started the run at a very fast pace and I managed to stay with his pace but at one point with Agius Lia who open a gap of 50m. I did not give up and I really had to do a massive effort to dig deep into my reserves and launch my final attack. Not only did I close the gap but also managed to launch the final sprint finish to win my first race of the season in a time of 55.28. Lia came in second in 55.33 and Shaun Galea 3^rd in 56.03.

I am very happy with my performance. I expected such a hard race although at one point I thought that I was not going to win knowing too well that normally I would not turn on a strong final sprint finish. This year I changed completely the approach to my training regime and am trying to build his form slowly in order to reach his peak in June for the European Triathlon Championships. This win is very significant as it consolidates all the improvement done this winter. I was particularly pleased with the great sportsmanship shown through – a great example for all athletes, especially the young ones present

I would like to thank everyone for voting for me for the people choce award. I came 3rd with just 2.5% from winning the award. So close but I am grateful that I was in the final and will work harder so that one day I will make it to the final again and try to win this award

I would like to thank my coach Ivan Rozhnov, my brother Dermot Galea, my wife Elizabeth, his daughter Elise and the rest of my family, his sponsors www.garminmalta.com, BBB Cycling Malta, Jaycee Malta, Team Barry Malta International Challenge Marathon, Starbene 24/7, Sarracino Café, Lucida Laundry, my club Birkirkara St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon Federation, the Maltese Olympic Committee and Sport Malta for the Constant support.

That’s all for know

Yours in sports

Keith