Race registration today

Race registration for Maltese entrants will take place today, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. As in recent years, registration will take place at the showroom of event main sponsor BMW in Rue D'Argens, Gzira.

As was announced in the marathon launching last Thursday, for the first time (and due to the record entries), the marathon will be using Champion Chip technology for race timing and results.

Therefore, all entrants are to note that as well as picking up their race number and goodie bag as usual at registration, they are to ensure that they also pick up the Champion Chip that corresponds to their race number.

This chip should be affixed to the laces of their running shoes. No other method of timing will be used.

So, if you do not have a chip, or for some reason you forget it on race day, or lose it during the race, you will not be given an official finish time or position.

The chip will record the race position and finish time of every runner as they cross the finish line. The chip will then immediately be removed by marathon officials.

The cost of these chips is not included in the race entry fee, and no extra refundable deposit is being requested of marathon entrants.

However, all runners are asked to ensure that they do not inadvertently leave the finish area without making sure they have returned their Champion Chip to the officials.

Failing to do so will cause the organisers to pay a penalty fee of €15 for every non-returned chip.

Furthermore, if for any reason someone who registers and collects their chip today does not run (perhaps through illness or injury between registration and race day), or that person starts the race but for some reason cannot complete it, they must still ensure that they return their chip to the officials at the race finish line before 1 p.m. on race day.

The chip timing is operated by a specialist company flown in from Italy, and they will be returning to Italy on the evening of the race.

Any chips not returned to the race organisers by 1 p.m. on race day will mean the penalty clause of €15 per chip will apply.

No chips can be returned at a later date.

These chips will not work for any other marathon, so there is no possible reason for anyone to retain them.

Any runners who do not return their chip will leave the organisers no option but to publish their names and other details on the Malta Marathon website.

Talent Search

As explained in last week's article, in Beep Tests conducted on fewer than 100 Maltese individuals in the last two years, I managed to discover two who demonstrated the in-built physical potential to become international class middle- and long-distance runners (naturally, with suitable training).

Although this might not sound like many, such a high percentage leads me to believe there must be many more out there waiting to be discovered.

In recent years I also had reason to conduct a second type of test on a number of people, one aimed at measuring leg power (as opposed to the Beep Test which measures Aerobic Endurance). This is called the Vertical Jump Test (aka Sargent Jump).

Leg power would be of importance in athletic events such as sprints (60m-400m), long jump and high jump. Yet, this physical fitness factor would also be extremely valuable in other sports; e.g. basketball, football.

I found a number of individuals who could be classified (according to international standards) as Very Good (roughly the standard of good class 400-800m runners), and I also found one individual who can only be classed as Excellent (>70cm).

As with the two talented individuals I discovered with the Beep Test, this person is also mainly interested in football.

Although I was unable to persuade any of the three to take up athletics, I am content that with their physical ability they are actively involved in sport of some kind.

See you at registration.

johnwalsh42195@yahoo.it