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Competing abroad has to be one of the main ambitions for any longdistance runner and, with St.Patrick's being a club with so manylong distance runners, it is onlynatural that each year many getthe opportunity to do so.Occasionally, they do so in groupsand so it was this year when agroup of eight athletes got together to take part in the Reading Half-Marathon, one of the most popular half-marathons in the UK and arace that practically all describedas being fantastic.

Marisa Muscat

This was my first time runningabroad and the experience wasunique.There were shuttle buses from thetrain station to the stadium every 5minutes. As soon as we got toMadejski stadium we went lookingfor these big tents. In these tentsall the athletes participating lefttheir belongings in a bag taggedwith their race number. We couldnot decide what to wear as theweather was a bit nippy. Finally wecame to the conclusion to wear long sleeve top and long runningpants.We proceeded to the pens wherewe started the warming up. Lots of music everywhere and a superbfeeling.The warming up was guided bygym instructors. Finally the timearrived, it was 10.00 am sharp onthe 29th of March when the gunwas triggered and off we went.

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The Shamrock

The official publication of Saint Patrick’s Athletic ClubIssue No. 42 June 2009

A Fantastic Experience

Opening Up

Just as I’m writing this editorial, it has been announcedthat a fund of around €250,000 has been made availableto those entities wishing to investigate the possibility of increasing sports tourism to Malta.Athletics has long been a player here – albeit indirectly –with the Malta Marathon and the International Track meetboth attracting large numbers of foreign athletes.It is an area where perhaps more cane be done in clubraces.Certainly, there is plenty of charm at the Birzebbugia 10,with water melons distributed at the finish an thepossibility of ending your run with a dip in the sea. It isalso held at a time when there are many tourists in Malta,many of whom I’m sure would be more than interested intaking part in such a run.The Dingli 10 is also brimming with potential as I struggleto find another race on the island that goes through sucha scenic route.In this issue of the Shamrock, we talk in detail about your views on the Dingli 10 but I thought that this piece throughwhich Peter Chittenden describes his experience in Malta – this 71 year-old runner has take part in the Dingli 10 for the past three years – to fellow runners of the Tone Zoneclub.

Thursday 19th March, which is a Public Holiday in Malta,the Dingli 10 Mile Race over roads and rough tracks, raceorganised by St.Patrick's Athletic Club. A very tough and testing course, with plenty of pot-holesand a steady climb from 4 to 7 Miles with small hills at start of both the 8th and 9th Mile. The second part of therace is along Dingli Cliffs,which is the highest point on Malta.The race this year was won by a young German Male Runner who only turned up to enter on the morning of raceand finished in under 55 mins. which was one of the best times over the current course.It was a pity one of St.Patrick's and Malta's top runners Jonathan Balzan was not running this year as I am surethey would have had a great contest. Jonathan is representing Malta later this year in The Small Island Games,like our own Dave for Anglesey.I finished in 1.27.13, and picked up the 1st Male O/70 Trophy, had a good run against another St.Patrick's O/70 runner Victor Spiteri. A good and well organised local club run, where both my wife and I were made very welcome, being picked upfrom our hotel and taken by one of the St.Patrick's runners and his wife. Good Medal and Hilly running accessory for all runners completing, with Trophies in several M/F categories.

THE SHAMROCK

The official publication of St. Patrick’s Athletic ClubIssue No. 42 – June 2009

Editor

: Paul Grech

Sub-Editor:

Jonathan Balzan

Address:

St. Helen, Vjal ix-Xarolla, Zurrieq

Telephone:

21 640 871

Mobile:

7901 4601

E-Mail:

malta.athletics@gmail.com

Website:

www.stpatricksac.info

Antoine Attard

President

Stephen Spiteri

Vice President, MAAA Representative &Shamrock Co-ordinator

Joe Zerafa

Treasurer

Rose Tabone

Officer Juniors

Lee Micallef

Public Relations

Peter Barbara

Asst. Sec & Social Events co-ordinator

Cyprian Dalli

Secretary

Paul Grima

Clubhouse Director

Roger Zammit

Technical Director

Any contributions for the next issue of theShamrock may be sent to the editor.

Paul Grech’sEditorial

The Shamrock

June ‘09

2www.stpatricksac.info

◄ Continued from Page 1

The route was completely trafficfree, bands and music and peoplecheering the athletes all along theway. To be honest I did not evenrealize that I was running a half marathon!!!! On the whole the routewas quite flat.The finish at the Madejski Stadiumwas the cherry on the cake, it waspacked with spectators. Since Iarrived to a count down just prior tothe 1 hr 30 minutes, it was evenmore thrilling My chip time was 1 hr 29 minutes 48 sec and I amextremely happy with this timesince it was the first time under the1 hr 30 minutes and I managed todo this without being coached.

Emile Vassallo

This was my third time competingabroad, but it was my firstexperience participating in such alarge event with close to 12,000athletes. I was very excited aboutthe whole thing and being part of agroup and not doing it on your ownhelps a lot.The experience was amazing.Before travelling to Reading wewere monitoring the weather forecast to try to decide what towear on race day - to run in shortsor trousers or singlet or t-shirt or vest! We wanted to make sure thatwe ran in the club colours so in theend it was long sleeved t-shirt andclub singlet on top for me! The startof the race was a completely newexperience to me - we were to findour place behind the start lineaccording to our predicted race-time. We did, and took part inwarm-up exercises led by twoathletes on a stage at the side of the road. This did away with thetension that you feel when you're alllined up and waiting for the gun. Atthis stage we were packed quitetightly and started to walk slowlythen jog before there was enoughroom to run. There was hardly onemetre between yourself and therunners ahead of you so careneeded to be taken not to hitanybody.The route was an unknown quantityto me. You do have a look at themap and at the elevation charts butyou don't know what you're in for. InMalta, we become familiar with therace routes and know exactly whatto expect, there you need to keepan open mind because the route isalien to you. I think that it is a littleharder than the Malta Half Marathon because it has a few hills,some short and steep others longand less steep. The public wasamazing though - the entire routewas lined with supporters cheeringyou on and encouraging your effort.The drinks stations were very wellmanaged too and I as surprised tocome across an unofficial JellyBaby station! The onlydisadvantage is that you constantlyrun in the crowd and if you feel youneed to go faster, you not only needto accelerate but you also need tofind a gap in the crowd ahead.To add to my satisfaction Imanaged a Half Marathon personalbest! It's not a great time - 1:37.13but my best timefrom the 2007Malta half marathon was1:41.56, so I'mvery happy withan improvementof almost 5minutes (on amoredemandingroute). I mustthank MartinAgius whohelped me a lotduring mypreparation for this year'smarathon whichI ran for the firsttime - thispreparation certainly contributed tothis result. I ran alongside JudeZammit all the way and this wasalso a great help for me - I thinkthat if this weren't the case I wouldhave slowed down.The last 400 metres were pureadrenalin! You enter the MadjeskiStadium with spectators seated onall sides- you step up your pacewithout realising it - you then goround the curve, look up see theclock and think, "I've beaten youthis time!"

Joe Zerafa

This was not my first experienceabroad as I have been doingmarathons & half marathons abroadsince 1996. However, I must saythat it compares well with some of the marathons I have done abroad.The experience was fantastic. Thefact that there were around 12,000runners doing the race wasexhilarating. I was told that this half marathon is the second mostpopular after the Great North Runof Newcastle.The route was very scenic and nottedious at all. Anyway with around50 athletes continuously runningaround you one hardly notices thetime.My time was 1hr 40min which isn’tgreat at all. I did the Malta Half Marathon in 1hr 37min andprobably was still feeling the after effects.

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www.stpatricksac.infoThe Shamrock

June ‘09