Walkers' chance to shine

Next February sees the 25th Malta Marathon.

In 1986 we began with 109 participants: two years ago we passed 1,000 finishers. As an event, we've grown up; come of age. The annual marathon has become part of the culture, part of the fabric of Maltese life.

Once upon a time what we do was called "training" and was the realm of the few, the extremists, now fitness has gone global and is rightly viewed as a fundamental element of a healthy lifestyle.

In all parts of Malta and Gozo you find people of all ages, shapes and sizes out exercising.

Each year I write articles leading up to marathon day, and for many years now these have been aimed at the beginner, the jogger who one day dreamed of completing the half marathon. As much as possible, I have written of ordinary people just like you and me who quietly go out and do extraordinary things.

That's the key, ordinary people like you and me. Therefore, remove from your mind any idea you ever had of the marathon and half marathon as competitions.

To be honest, few take part with thoughts of actually winning... for most of us the event is a celebration of health and fitness.

Without getting too philosophical, it could be argued that we are what we do in life. The things we choose to do, and the things we choose not to do, serve to define us.

With that in mind, as you read on, no longer think of the half marathon as a competition but as a statement; this is me and this is what I do.

Much research has been conducted on why people take part in distance events (walkers, joggers, runners) and motives related to health, personal achievement and self-esteem are often shown to be more valid than competitive motivation. Most of us don't take part primarily to beat others but to define and validate ourselves and our way of life.

In a recent sports survey, conducted locally, the most popular activity by number of active participants (not spectators), was not football, but walking, and by an overwhelming margin.

And this jibes well with the numbers of walkers we've all seen in ones and twos (often early morning) in those areas with good wide pavements.

Unifying event

Since a large part of my life is spent encouraging and promoting such activity, this gladdens me, but for all these walkers, there is no unifying event, no day that is theirs.

On marathon day we mobilise over 1,000 helpers, including seemingly the whole Malta Police Force, St John's Ambulance, Red Cross Society and a host of others.

Traffic at most junctions is stopped. Think about it. At no other time of the year are the roads so safe and so secure for runners and walkers. Why should only runners get to enjoy them on that day?

Let's turn Malta Marathon day into a celebration of physical activity. If you ever did, no longer see the event as a competition. It's not (simply) a race, it's a day for everyone who believes in a healthy active lifestyle.

Last year we started this in a small way. With the marathon starting at 8 a.m., and the half marathon at 10 a.m., we started a third (half marathon walk) event at 9 a.m. Now we want to open this to everyone.

If you have ever stood at the marathon finish and watched the runners come in tired but exhilarated; if you have ever wondered what it would be like to do the same, yet at your own level; if you have run a half marathon but have a mum, dad, partner who would love to do the same, then this is their wish come true.

Don't get me wrong. Walking 13.1 miles is not easy.

If it were, there would be little sense of accomplishment in completing the half marathon. So, it's going to take some work on your part, but as our schedule shows, if you start now you have lots of time to build the fitness required.

The key to getting ready to finish a half marathon is the long walk, progressively increasing in distance each weekend.

Over a period of some 24 weeks between now and next February, your longest walk will increase. The schedule suggests doing your long walks on Sundays, but you can do them Saturdays, or any other convenient day, as long as you are consistent.

Don't worry too much about how fast you walk during most of your regular workouts - at least for the first few weeks. Walk at a comfortable pace. If you're training with a friend (and this is a great motivator for both of you), the two of you should be able to hold a conversation. If you can't do that, you're walking too fast.

The secret is consistency. Make walking a regular habit not just something you do on the weekends.

I will write lots more over the coming weeks, but for now, enjoy your training. From now on, if anyone ever asks you why you train so often you can tell them you're taking part in next year's Land Rover Malta Walk-a-thon.

johnwalsh42195@yahoo.it