Mdina-Spinola race on December 17

Just about everyone who has ever run the Mdina-Spinola race knows that it is always held on the last Sunday before Christmas. Well, it was, until this year.

This year's event will be held one week early - December 17. Pass this information on to as many runners as you know, because many will not be aware that the race is being held so early this year.

If the organisers had held to tradition, with Christmas falling on a Monday this year, then the race would have been held on Christmas Eve. I can only recall one other time that this date sequence had occurred, and clearly remember the well-justified (and good-natured) complaints of some of the participants at the time.

Their point was that after racing as hard as possible for 10.8 miles all the way from Mdina to Spinola, instead of going home and putting their feet up and relaxing they now had to hurry home and cook a turkey.

As well as prepare a Christmas dinner for the whole family, try and squeeze in some last-minute shopping and gift wrap the presents for the kids and grandkids and get them under the tree.

Since this is hardly the best post-race way to unwind, it was decided that if this ever happened again, the race would be brought forward by one week.

As ever, (and the following comments are really only for those who have never taken part), the race starts from Mdina Gate (promptly) at 8 a.m. There is no need to pre-register, or fill in any entry forms, this is the last of the low-key races; simply give your name and age to one of the officials when you apply at the startline, pay the Lm2 entry fee and wait for the gun to go off.

Entries open at 7 a.m., so don't be late. All finishers in Spinola will receive a commemorative Urban Jungle Mdina-Spinola medal. There will be awards for the first three male and females overall as well as age-group prizes.

The award ceremony will take place at the finish in Spinola soon after the event. All medals and awards are sponsored by Urban Jungle and the water by San Michel.

Another well-organised race taking place next week is the Birkirkara 5km on Wednesday. This is the final event in the series of four 5km races, three of which took place in Ta' Qali during the summer.

The race begins and ends at the Birkirkara Local Council offices, and the route is mainly out and back along the Birkirkara By-Pass which is closed to traffic.

It is not necessary to have taken part in the race series to take part next Wednesday. For more details, contact Birkirkara Local Council, or Birkirkara St Joseph sports club as soon as possible.

Enjoy your running.

johnwalsh42195@yahoo.it