Registration today

All Maltese runners are reminded to come to registration today at the Galaxy Hotel in Sliema to collect their race number and other goodies. Registration is bet-ween 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

For those of you who are running the half marathon for the first time, you need to think of things like, where will you leave your car, what about your clothes?

It is not a good idea to take your car to the start at Mdina. Not only is there limited parking space, you will be left with the hassle of having to go back to Mdina later in the day to collect it.

Fortunately, buses have been organised. Now all you have to do is park your car at the finish and catch the bus which leaves The Ferries in Sliema at 8.30 a.m. and gets you to Mdina in plenty of time for the half marathon start at 10 a.m. Just make sure and purchase a bus ticket at registration.

You will also be given a clothes bag at registration with your race number on it. Any clothes you put in it at the startline will be taken to The Ferries for you and you can collect them immediately after you finish the race.

What to eat? Over recent weeks I have mentioned the importance of carbohydrates and fat for energy.

You should increase the percentage of these in your diet in the last three days before the race so your body can store up this energy for race morning. This means you can cut out most of the meat, chicken and fish from your diet on those final three days and try and eat more carbohydrates instead. But do be careful not to overeat.

Carbohydrates are popular foods like: pasta, bread, pizza, rice, as well as dried fruit, biscuits, cakes and soft drinks (not diet).

Your body needs water to store carbohydrate in your muscles, so be sure to drink adequately; at least two litres of water per day. Buy the big two-litre bottles and finish one each of the last three days. As ever I recommend nibbling a 50gm packet of peanuts on each of the last two days for those extra fats. Again, be careful not to overeat.

A friend who is temporarily working abroad, Julian Borg, has just emailed me that he took part in the Las Vegas half marathon on February 2.

Apparently, there was a wicked headwind with gusts up to 30mph giving the runners a good sandblasting. All thoughts of fast times went out of the window as everyone just did their best to survive.

Have you run a marathon, or half marathon, abroad? Or have you taken part in many marathons (let's say 20 or more)? If you can answer yes to either of these questions, why not send me some details at the following email address: maltesemarathoners@hotmail.com.

Depending on how many people reply, it might be interesting to write one article about Maltese marathoning in foreign countries (has anyone run in Japan or Australia?) and another about the Maltese runner(s) who have run the most marathons. Think about it and if you have a story to tell, write to me before March 15.

The most interesting stories may feature in next year's BMW Malta Marathon race magazine.