Over 225 runners are expected to participate in the 25th edition of the Nestlé Fitness Malta International Challenge Marathon, of which 200 will be competing in the challenge and the remaining 25 in the team relay.

This was announced by Barry Whitmore, race director of the Challenge Marathon, at the launch of this year’s event at Dolmen Resort Hotel, the official hotel and race headquarters.

“Competition for this year’s marathon challenge title is expected to be very strong following the registration of some of the country’s leading athletes, including Keith Galea who was recently crowned champion in the Malta National Triathlon Champion-ships,” Whitmore said.

Also present for the news conference this week was Chris Agius, the Parliamentary Secretary for Re-search, Innovation, Youth and Sport, who emphasised the importance of sports participation as a tool to fight obesity.

Agius said his secretariat has embarked on a pilot project in collaboration with the Parlia-mentary Secretariat for Health whereby dancing sessions have been introduced during break time for secondary school students.

Alfred Borg, marketing and corporate communications manager at Nestlé Malta, the main sponsors of the Malta International Challenge Marathon, said their association with this annual event underlines the company’s philosophy to support sporting initiatives.

“Our sponsorship of this marathon is yet another confirmation of the endeavours that Malta undertakes to support local sporting activities in all spheres, from education, to charity, as well as local entities who promote healthy lifestyle initiatives taking place in the community where we operate,” Borg said.

As in past years, the marathon will be spread over three days, starting on Friday, November 20 and coming to an end the following Sunday.

The first leg will cover a distance of 11.1kms starting from Mdina Gate and finishing at Rabat.

The Day Two race will be on a shorter distance of 6kms beginning at St George’s Bay in Birżebbuġa and finishing in front of the town’s parish church.

The marathon will wrap up with a 25km Sunday run starting near the Wignacourt Tower in St Paul’s Bay and finishing at Freedom Square in Valletta.

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