Mellieħa 5K race

The heat may have forced Malta's long distance runners to shift their training to the cooler hours of the day but few will have put their preparation on hold during the summer.

If anything, with the serious running about to begin shortly, the time dedicated to add more mileage starts to increase.

The Mellieħa AC 5k, which will be held tomorrow, is not widely considered to be one of the more prestigious races but it serves the very valid purpose of allowing runners to gauge their physical condition ahead of the new season.

"This race is more of a fun run or a preparation race for local runners rather than a competitive one given that it is held in summer before the start of the season which normally gets underway near the end of September," Mellieħa AC's Julian Borg said.

"The average turnout is normally 50 to 60. For this year's race we are expecting the same entry field. Registration is held before the race, so anyone interested may turn up an hour-and-a-half before the race and sign in."

One of those expected to line up is last year's winner Haitem Ksheim who also holds the course record at 15:41.

Interestingly, although the race has had a different winner each time it has been held, it has always been a St Patrick's AC runner who has come out on top with Jonathan Balzan winning the first edition (15:48), Michael Gellel the second (16:18) and Ksheim last year.

The Mellieħa AC 5K starts at 7 p.m. tomorrow and athletes can register as from 5.30pm. Additional information can be obtained by phoning 9988-3577.

Bordin in Malta

In the meantime, Diadora, Mellieħa 5k race main sponsors, have announced that 1988 Olympic marathon winner Gelindo Bordin will be in Malta next month.

Athletes and sports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to meet Bordin at the Diadora shop in Birkirkara on September 15 between 4 and 6.30 p.m.

Bordin will also hold a training session for local runners an hour later at St Aloysius College.

For more details phone 2149-0294 or 9940-4417.