The Malta Marathon will set off this morning from Mdina, ending up at Sliema.
This 26th edition of the Malta Marathon again has Land Rover as its sponsor and this year’s event is known as “The 2011 Land Rover Malta Marathon”.
San Michel, Powerade, Urban Jungle and eworld are the partners for the event.
The increase of participants has gone up as follows: 400 in the Walkathon which was only introduced last year; 300 in the Half Marathon and 90 in the full marathon.
Maltese participation has also increased significantly from last year’s 700 to this year’s 1,250. The number of foreigners has gone up from last year’s 700 to this year’s 950. That brings the overall total to 2,200, compared to last year’s 1,425.
The organizers have announced that they are trying to secure the presence of a further three African athletes who are capable of running below 2.20.
This year there are 40 Polish participants coming from two groups and a few individuals. Joining one of these groups and participating in the Half Marathon is Boguslaw Maminski, a former well known middle distance runner. Maminski can best be remembered for the silver medal that be won in the 1982 European Athletic Championships and again in the 1983 World Athletic Championships.
As in past recent years, the start and finish time of each athlete will be electronically registered as they cross the start and finish lines, the system will automatically work out their running time and position.
The routes for both the 2010 Land Rover Malta Marathon and Half Marathon will be the same as for 2010.
The Marathon will be over the classic distance of 42.2 km and will start at Mdina at 8am. The Walkathon will start at 9am and the Half Marathon will start at 10am.
The Sliema Ferries will be the venue for the finish of this popular event. The location attracts a vast number of spectators, who with their applause and cheering, help the participants get through their last paces of their feat. The location also allows the participants to run the last 5km on flat ground whilst admiring the picturesque creeks of the Grand Harbour
The first athlete to arrive at the finish is expected at about 10.15am, with the last ones coming in at about 1pm.
All finishers within the allowable time limit of each respective event, will be given a specially minted medal as they cross the finish line.
As in past years there will also be a 2 km Fun Run which starts from the Ferries at Sliema. Like last year, this year’s run is also open to parents rather than just children and should prove to be an enjoyable family activity. All finishers will receive a medal, refreshments and a goodie-bag.
The run will start at 9am and is being coordinated by the enterprising athletic club Pembroke Athleta