A record 3,600 athletes and walking enthusiasts are expected to hit the streets on February 23 for the annual Malta Marathon, this year sponsored by Vodafone.
Details about the 2014 Malta Marathon, now in its 21st edition, were given during a news conference yesterday.
Of the 3,600 applicants – almost 400 more than last year – 1,500 are foreign. Around 600 athletes have registered to take part in the full marathon, 2,100 in the half and 900 in the increasingly popular walkathon.
A total of 92 Maltese athletes will take part in the full marathon, 79 men and 13 women, but the number swells to over 2,000 for the half marathon and walkathon.
The organisers have received 501 applications from the United Kingdom with Germany and Italy also represented by large contin-gents of 201 and 195 respectively.
The favourites for the Malta Marathon title are Moroccans Mohammed Hajjy, who set a new course record of 2:16.06 when winning the 2013 race for the third year running, Abdelekrim Kabbouri, a two-time runner-up, and new-comer Yassine Kabbouri.
Among the local runners, the leading contenders are Jonathan Balzan and Andrew Grech, fourth and fifth respectively last year.
Carmen Hili, of St Patrick’s, was the first woman to complete last year’s marathon in 2:56.40.
The full marathon starts at 8.30am while the half gets underway at 9.20am, both from Mdina. The walkathon participants will line up behind the marathon runners.
After leaving Mdina, the runners will breeze through Mtarfa, Ta’ Qali, Attard, Mosta, back through Ta’ Qali and Attard, Mrieħel by-pass, Qormi, Marsa, Blata l-Bajda, Floriana, Pietà, Msida, Ta’ Xbiex and Gżira leading to the finish line in Sliema.
The half marathon and walkathon will follow the same route bar the Ta’ Qali-Attard-Mosta-Ta’ Qali loop.
“The sponsorship of such event is a milestone in itself for Vodafone Malta,” Monique Brincau, senior brand executive at Vodafone, said.
“Indeed it is a first for us and is testament to our firm belief in the values of achievement and success.
“Thousands from all walks of life and all ages will make it to the finish line in an act of personal achievement with many doing it for a good cause.
“The official charity this year is Inspire. Runners are being urged to collect money for this charity, thus adding even more value to their feat.”
Joe Micallef, the chairman of the organising committee, said that 25 bands will be lining the route to cheer the participants as will the various voluntary organisations that have become a fixture in every marathon.
The Vodafone Malta Marathon will once again go viral this year.
Along the route, photographers will be at hand to take pictures of the runners which can be automatically uploaded to their Facebook page in real time.