As the former founding chairman of the Malta Marathon, I was deeply saddened to learn of John Walsh’s unexpected and untimely death.

It was 26 years ago that I first conceived the idea for the Malta Marathon and personally assembled a stellar team of superb athletes, including John, who were dedicated to the promotion of competitive running in Malta and who were strongly motivated to mentor and lead a young and aspiring generation of future athletes.

The original committee of seven athletes consisted of myself, as founding chairman, John Walsh, PRO, Mario Chetcuti, treasurer, Edwin Attard, secretary, Joe Micallef, race director, Joe Farrugia and Alfred Camilleri. We were not only organisers but also participating athletes in our own right who regularly competed in the Malta Marathon.

I was so proud of this pioneering team – a dream come true for me – and to my mind, at least, those first few years laid the foundation and firmly established the Malta Marathon as an idea whose time had come, allowing it to grow into the large and respected organisation it would become.

We were runners for many reasons: for the love of the sport, for the sheer exhilaration, the sense of accomplishment and freedom, and for the discipline it gave to body and mind.

One does not have to finish first to be successful. In fact, simply finishing a marathon, no matter how you place, requires conquering oneself in ways that build character and spirit. John shared these ideas. He was also seriously dedicated to the sport and he used his abilities, with very good effect, to coach other athletes on to victory.

Running a marathon is a difficult and demanding personal and athletic goal. But it is so worth it! Walsh ‘ran the good race’, and like a true athlete embraced his passion to the end. I respectfully extend my deepest sympathies to John’s wife and family.