My Favourite Run: Ruben Debono and the Malta Half Marathon

I've just done the Berlin marathon and have to admit that it was a marvellous exeperience, one that I will cherish this race for all my life. Being my first full marathon, I will never forget the experience. My trip to berlin for the full marathon is actually the crowning of this feat, if i may humbly call it that!

Locally, my favourite race is without any doubt the half marathon which is organised at the end of february each year. My best result, achieved in 1995, was that on 1:47.10. I think that a lot of runners know the route, the traditional one from Mdina to Sliema, whihch is mostly a downhill route of 21km.

The reason that I enjoy it so much as it comes at a period of the year when you can achieve the best results as you would have been training for it during the fresh autumn and winter seasons. The build up for the race is also accompanied by other races which also help you up to maintain a good physical shape not only for this race but also for other long distance races. I like this race so much that I have been doing this race, (i.e the half marathon race of february) for these last 20 years!

The predominantly downhill gradient is that special something that other races don't have especially considering the considerable length of the race. Most probably the only exception is the Mdina - Spinola race held two months before. Obviously this factor helps us runners to achieve a good finishing time.

Another factor which makes this race so good is the fact that so many maltese runners do their utmost to compete in it, irrespective of their abilities and targets.

My Favourite Run is a regular feature on MaltaAthletics.com where athletes have the opportunity to talk about those races which they love competing in. If you would like to be featured, simply drop us a line at malta.athletics[at]gmail.com.

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